§ 12. Mr. PATRICK MEEHANasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he is aware that the adoption of the Departmental line from Drogheda to Oranmore has cut away half the local Irish market for the store cattle and other stock of Queen's County and King's County farmers; and if he can say whether there is any likelihood of obviating this disadvantage?
§ 13. Mr. FIELDasked the Vice-President whether he can state what arrangements are being made respecting, if any, the movement of live stock and the export of live stock to Great Britain?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELL (Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture, Ireland)I have conferred with the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries to-day, and am able to announce new arrangements in regard to the transit of Irish cattle:—
- 1. An Order will be issued to come into force on Wednesday next, 22nd instant, under which store cattle may be shipped from districts north of the existing boundary line to Greenock, Ayr, Stranraer, Barrow, Heysham, Fleetwood, and Holy-head. All ports north of the line will be opened for this trade, namely, Belfast, Dundalk, Greenore, Drogheda, Newry, Derry, Coleraine, Portrush, and Larne.
- 2. The stores will be subject to two hours' detention in Ireland and to four days' detention and isolation from the date of landing. At the expiration of the four days the animals will be permitted to be moved by licence to specified premises in Great Britain; there to be detained under the observation of the local authority for a further period of fourteen days.
- 3. Next week the Department propose to submit for the approval of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries a revised boundary line, which will place the counties of Clare and Gal-way on the northern side. The new line will also run from Mullingar viâ Navan to Drogheda. The Department are also about to make proposals to the Board in regard to the opening of the port and market of Dublin. This can only be done when the position of the disease at Bally-sax and Stepaside renders it safe. But at Ballysax the disease has not been active for three weeks, and at Stepaside there is no appearance of fresh cases. And I hope the Department may be able towards the
309 latter end of next week to open both the port and the market of Dublin. This will also open the natural market for King's and Queen's Counties, or at least such portions as are at a safe distance from affected areas in Tipperary.
§ Mr. FIELDI beg to give notice that in order that we may quite understand this question I will raise it on the Adjournment.
§ Mr. DUFFYPending the reconstruction of the line alluded to by the right hon. Gentleman may I ask him, has any modification been made in the boundary line in respect of the fair to be held to-morrow at Loughrea?
§ Mr. RUSSELLIn answer to the request made by the hon. Gentleman, the boundary line is drawn so as to bring Athenry, Loughrea, and Ballinasloe on the north side.
§ Mr. PATRICK WHITEWill fat cattle be allowed into England at once after two days' quarantine?
§ Mr. RUSSELLYes.
§ Mr. MOONEYAre there to be eighteen days' detention on this side and two days on the other side, making twenty days in all?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThat period of quarantine has existed for a couple of weeks. Upon the occasion of the last outbreak these arrangements were made—four days' detention at the ports and fourteen days by the local authorities.
§ Mr. JOYCEIs it not a fact that for forty years no disease of this kind has been known in Limerick or the county of Limerick; will the right hon. Gentleman say why that important port has not been opened before now; and whether in opening county Clare and county Galway Limerick will also be opened?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe hon. Member has stated what is quite correct. There has been no actual disease in the county of Limerick for a very long time, I should say forty years, but the hon. Member must remember that Limerick is in close proximity to Tipperary, and part of Limerick has to be drawn into the scheduled area.
§ Mr. FALCONERIs there any prospect of the opening of the other Scottish ports?
§ Mr. RUSSELLIf things continue as they are in Ireland in regard to the disease itself there will be no difficulty arising with regard to the opening of the whole of the ports. I am happy to say that the disease is showing every sign of abatement.
§ Mr. RUSSELLIt will be open for store cattle after Wednesday. I will make an announcement as to fat cattle later on.
§ 14. Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked whether a deputation, introduced by the mayor of Drogheda, waited upon the officers of his Department last week with regard to the opening of their port; whether they were able to state, upon the authority of the local head of the constabulary, that calves alleged to have come from Cork did not come from that county but from the county of Kerry; and whether he will now state definitely if Drogheda, the natural port of exportation for the counties of Meath and Louth, will be opened this week?
§ Mr. RUSSELLI am informed that the calves referred to by the deputation were certain calves from Kerry stopped by the Drogheda police. The animals which were the object of suspicion were not, however, these calves, but others moved from Thurles into the Drogheda neighbourhood. The resumption of shipments of live stock from Drogheda Port is a matter for arrangement with the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, and I have no hope that shipments from the port will be allowed this week.
§ Mr. NOLANI should like to know if the port of Drogheda is to be opened for the export of store cattle, why at the same time it cannot be opened for the export of fat stock?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe port of Drogheda will be opened when the boundary line is changed, and stores will be free to leave on Wednesday.
§ 15. Mr. FFRENCHasked whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that forty- 311 eight days have elapsed since that last consignment of calves supposed to be infected with foot-and-mouth disease arrived in the county of Wexford; and whether, seeing that there is no appearance of this disease in any part of the county, nor in any of the surrounding counties, he can say when it is proposed to open the port of Wexford?
§ Mr. RUSSELLIt is gratifying that Wexford continues free from foot-and-mouth disease. The restrictions that were imposed on a part of the county in relation to the movements of calves referred to were withdrawn some time since, but in view of the general position as regards the disease in Southern Ireland the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries have not yet seen their way to reopen British ports to stock from any port of Ireland below the Drogheda-Oranmore line. While it is hoped that some modification of this embargo may soon be possible, there would, in any case, be doubt whether the port of Wexford could benefit in the matter, as no line of steamers suitable for live stock traffic has been sailing from the port for eighteen months.
§ Mr. FFRENCHIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is contemplated at present to get a steamer, and is it not a very simple matter to isolate Wexford from the South of Ireland? You have only two bridges, and it is very easily done. Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of opening the port of Wexford?
§ Mr. RUSSELLI put that case to the Board to-day, and they are not in favour of it. That would require a perfectly new line to be drawn.
§ 65. Mr. FIELDasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he can state what arrangements are being made respecting the importation of Irish live stock into Great Britain?
§ 66. Mr. FFRENCHasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that a crisis in the cattle trade like the present inflicts losses on Irish farmers, and that recurring restrictions must render them unable to pay their annuities; and will he consider the advisability of coming to some arrangement with the Vice-President of the Irish Department, with a view to allow freedom of trade in live stock between Great Britain and Ireland from unrestricted areas?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Herbert Lewis, for Mr. Runciman)I cannot usefully add anything to the statement already made by my right hon. Friend the Vice-President of the Irish Department.
§ Mr. FIELDI beg to give notice that I shall raise the question on the Adjournment in order to get further information.
§ Mr. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask a question, of which I have given private notice: Can the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) say whether he has seen the statement in the Press that there has been a fresh outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the county Kilkenny, and whether he is in a position to confirm or contradict it?
§ Mr. RUSSELLAll I can say is this: I read the announcement in the "Times." I have had a telegram from the chief veterinary inspector since that—just before the House opened—and he says there is no fresh outbreak.