§ 13. Sir THOMAS ESMONDEasked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he has received a Resolution from the county Wexford County Council, representing the injury caused to the South and East of Ireland by the closing of the ports of Dublin and Wexford; and if he will remove these restrictions forthwith and 1309 apply, in future, to Ireland the same practice as prevails in England as regards the movement of animals, or else explain why Ireland and England should be differently treated in the matter?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As I explained in answer to a question addressed to me by the hon. Member for the St. Patrick's Division of Dublin, yesterday, an order has been made by the Board allowing animals shipped from Dublin and Wexford to be landed at certain British ports after to-morrow for slaughter within the landing-places. The regulation of the movement of animals in Ireland is a matter for the Irish Department, but if the last part of the question refers to the restrictions upon the landing of Irish animals in Great Britain, I can assure my hon. Friend that the precautions taken by the Board to prevent the introduction of disease are not more stringent than those taken in similar circumstances by the Irish Department.