§ MR. EDWARD BARRY (Cork Co., S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he is aware that a quantity of basic slag has recently been imported into Ireland for use as a fertilizer, which, though represented as being of the standard quality, is so inferior as to be little better than ground brick-dust; whether he is aware that the wholesale merchant who sold this slag to buyers in Ireland has instituted a prosecution against the foreign exporter; will he state what steps are being taken by the Department of Agriculture in Ireland to put in force the provisions of the Fertilizer and Feeding Stuffs Act, and to ensure that this article Is not being supplied to the farmers of 212 Ireland as genuine 38–45 per cent, quality, which the brand upon the bags purports it to be.
(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) It has been represented to the Department that a quantity of inferior basic slag has recently been imported into Ireland, and the attention of the Department has been drawn to a newspaper report of the prosecution referred to in the Question. The Department is inquiring into the matter with a view to such further action being taken as may be practicable in the circumstances.