§ MR. HAYDEN (Roscommon, S.)I beg to ask the Vice-President of the De- 352 partment of Agriculture and Technical Instruction in Ireland whether he has any information that a ship called the "Fram" is sailing from Dunkirk with a load of fodder for Ireland, and what action his Department intends to take in connection with this matter, seeing that foot and mouth disease exists in that district.
§ THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR IRELAND (Mr. T. W. RUSSELL,) Tyrone, S.I may be allowed to state how the matter stands. In the first place, an order against the landing of hay or straw imported from foreign infected countries will be issued, I think, on Wednesday. This Order has been issued in concert with the Board of Agriculture in Great Britain. I received information on Thursday last that a ship called the "Fram" was about to sail from Dunkirk with a cargo of straw for Dublin. That was an infected country, and I anticipated the General Order by issuing a Special Order prohibiting the landing of the cargo on its arrival. On Wednesday the Irish Order will be issued prohibiting the landing of hay and straw from ports in Great Britain. Of course a fortnight ago an Order was issued prohibiting the landing of animals. I think the Department has taken all necessary action, and I am glad of the opportunity of making this statement, in view of the anxiety that the matter has caused.