§ DR. AMBROSE (Mayo, W.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state the duties of and annual pay received by each member of the veterinary staff at Upper Merrion Street, Dublin; what is the salary of each portal inspector in Ireland; how many animals were detained for contagious disease at each port during the months of July, August, and September, 1906; could he give the number of veterinary portal inspectors in England, Scotland, and Ireland (exclusive of those at Merrion Street, Dublin how many veterinary portal inspectors are there for the port of London, and how many for the port of Dublin; and how many veterinary portal inspectors are there for the ports of Liverpool and Manchester, and how many for the port of Belfast.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The veterinary staff of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland at headquarters consists of the chief inspector and the superintending travelling inspector. Other inspectors employed from time to time at Upper Merrion Street in connection with the veterinary branch are:—(1) Portal inspectors who are nominally attached to the Port of Dublin, but are mainly engaged in connection with the suppression of swine fever, and in making inquiries into outbreaks of other diseases of animals. They also attend at the Port of Dublin when required and relieve the veterinary inspectors at other ports when those inspectors are absent on leave or through illness; (2) Veterinary inspectors temporarily employed under the Department on the work of eradicating swine fever. These inspectors are also employed from time to time in making inquiries into other diseases, or in acting temporarily 515 at the ports when necessary. At present there are five of these inspectors, who attend at the offices of the Department and are engaged on duty in Dublin and adjoining districts. The number varies according to requirements. The duties of the chief inspector are to act as veterinary adviser to the Department in respect of matters arising under the Diseases of Animals Acts, to take charge of the measures adopted with a view to the suppression of swine fever, and to direct the action of the veterinary inspectors in connection with their inquiries into diseases of animals generally. The duties of the superintendent travelling inspector, under the Diseases of Animals Acts, relate to the various matters concerning the transit of live stock by land and sea, and the supervision of the arrangements at the several ports for the veterinary inspection and shipment of animals brought to the ports for exportation from Ireland. His duties also embrace inquiries and inspections with regard to transit of produce, and he acts for the chief inspector in the absence of the latter. The salaries are as follows:—Chief inspector, £700 per annum; superintending travelling inspectors, £500 per annum; portal veterinary inspectors, scale £200–10— £300, rising to a maximum of £350 after thirty years service. Four inspectors receive in addition allowances for acting as supervisors at the larger ports, viz.:—Dublin, £85; Belfast, £50; Cork, £25; Waterford, £15. Local veterinary practitioners act as portal inspectors at the following ports:—
| Port. | Remuneration. |
| Wexford and Rosslare | £160 per annum |
| Sligo | £150 per annum |
| Ballina and Westport | £100 per annum |
| Coleraine and Portrush | £100 per annum |
| Limerick | £1s. for each day employed. |
| Dundrum | £1s. for each day employed. |
§ Temporary (non-established) inspectors are remunerated as follows:—Under 516 three years service, 10s. a day, including Sundays; three years service and under five years, 12s. a day, including Sundays; five years service and under twelve years, 14s. 6d. a day, including Sundays; twelve years service and upwards, 16s. 6d. a day, including Sundays. The number of animals detained on account of contagious disease at the Irish ports during the months of July, August, and September last was two, viz., two sheep stopped at Belfast on account of sheep scab. The number of portal veterinary inspectors in Ireland on the regular staff is twenty-two. There are in addition the six local practitioners above referred to. The number of inspectors attached to the port of Dublin is usually six, but this number may vary slightly at different seasons of the year. The number attached to the port of Belfast is three. I have no information as to the number of inspectors in England and Scotland. Any inquiry as to these should be addressed to the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries. The duties of the British and Irish inspectors are not quite the same. The latter inspectors examine all cattle, sheep, and swine which are exported from Ireland, as well as the cattle, sheep, and swine imported into the country. They also see that the regulations prohibiting the shipment of animals unfit to undergo the journey and the regulations for the prevention of cruelty are observed, and that the railway cattle stations and the inspection yard's and lairages at the ports are kept in proper condition and are duly cleansed and disinfected.