HC Deb 14 March 1901 vol 90 c1582
MR. DUFFY (Galway, S.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that typhus fever has broken out in the Arran Isles, county Galway; whether complaints were made to the Local Government Board concerning the unsanitary state of the isles so long ago as last August; and whether the medical inspector of the Board entirely neglected his duties in not visiting the isles until about ten days ago, and whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into the conduct of this officer.

MR. WYXDHAM

The first and second paragraphs are a repetition of inquiries put to me by the same hon. Member and answered on the 28th ultimo. I also stated that the duty of taking steps to prevent outbreaks of fever devolves upon the local authority and not upon the medical inspector of the Local Government Board. That gentleman visits the Arran Islands as often as his other duties throughout the province of Connaught permit, and I am not aware that there is anything in his conduct calling for inquiry as suggested.

MR. DUFFY

But why did the inspector fail to visit the island until ten days ago?

MR. WYXDHAM

The duty devolved not on the inspector, but on the local authorities.