§ Captain REDMOND(by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the present position with regard to the embargo on the export of Irish livestock into this country; whether he is aware that the maintenance of restrictions against the export of Irish cattle results in heavy loss and inconvenience to the English and Irish trades; and whether he will take immediate steps to have the position of the trade with regard to export facilities restored to normal conditions?
§ Lieut.-Colonel SANDERS (Lord of the Treasury)(1) The present position is that animals from all Irish ports are accepted at all British ports, for slaughter within 10 days of landing, either at the ports, or at slaughterhouses in the interior to which they are moved under licences issued by the Port Inspectors.
(2) The Ministry fully recognises that the Orders which prevent free movement of stock cause inconvenience and loss, but they are necessary to prevent the far greater loss which would follow the possible distribution of an infected cargo or cargoes of animals from Ireland in this country, as in 1912, when it was necessary to prohibit the landing of store animals from June to October, and the trade did not become normal again until January, 1913. The Irish store trade is now quieter than at any time of the year, and premature withdrawal of restrictions might have a disastrous effect on the large spring trade which commences when graziers require stores.
(3) Two outbreaks of disease have been confirmed in County Wicklow by the De partment of Agriculture and Technicai Instruction for Ireland—the first on 19th January and the second on 2nd February. The Ministry does not consider the time has yet arrived when Irish stores can be admitted with safety, but the restrictions will be removed at the earliest date possible.
§ Captain REDMONDIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware of the nature of the restrictions that have been imposed by the English Board of Agriculture when cases have arisen in England, namely, that a cordon of about 15 miles is drawn around an area and that outside that area absolute freedom of movement is allowed to the animals? Why should not that form of restriction be sufficient in the case of Ireland? Why is it not sufficient when only two cases have arisen in Ireland, and those two cases are within a short distance of one another, that a similar cordon should be drawn around the area and absolute freedom of movement given to the animals in all other parts of Ireland so that the ports should be open for the export of, not only fat, but store stock?
§ Sir R. SANDERSI have nothing to add to the answer which I have given.
§ Captain REDMONDWhat is the reason that the same form of restriction will not suffice for Ireland as for England? Is it not a fact that there have been innumerable cases in England during the last six months and that there have been only two cases in Ireland, and the whole trade of Ireland is held up by the British Board of Agriculture? That is a. fair question and I ask an answer.
§ Captain ELLIOTIs it not a fact that when cases occur in England and Scotland the Irish Board close the whole country against them, and is there any reason why the same procedure should not be applied to Ireland?
§ Captain REDMONDIs it not a fact that for every beast exported from England to Ireland there are a hundred exported from Ireland to England?
§ Sir R. SANDERSI think the supplementary questions which have been asked show pretty clearly that this is a matter for debate rather than for question and answer.