HC Deb 08 May 1905 vol 145 cc1138-9
MR. HAYDEN

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Local Government Board for Ireland recently wrote to the Athlone Board of Guardians that they had no power to detain two persons who had come in contact with persons just arrived in Mullingar from Southampton and who were suffering from smallpox, and that these men voluntarily submitted to isolation in the Union Hospital and there developed the disease; and, if so, in view of the consequences which might be involved to the whole community had these men continued their avocations, he will introduce a Bill to confer the power to isolate such "contacts" upon the proper authorities in Ireland.

MR. WALTER LONG

The facts are as stated in the first part of the Question. As already pointed out, the isolation of smallpox "contacts" cannot be effected except with the consent of such persons. In ordinary circumstances, it is held to be unnecessary to isolate the inmates of dwellings invaded by smallpox in districts in which the sanitary laws are properly administered and vaccination is efficiently carried out. I see no reason, therefore, for legislation on the subject.