ARTIFICIAL REPRODUCTION OF ANIMALS (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1975 (Hansard, 27 October 1975)

§ Lord DONALDSON of KINGS-BRIDGE
My Lords, I beg to move that the draft Artificial Reproduction of Animals (Northern Ireland) Order 1975, laid before the House on 22nd September, be approved. My Lords, the Order seeks to replace and extend the existing statutory provisions for control by the Department of Agriculture over the practice of artificial insemination of animals by persons other than the Department, and to make new provisions for control over the latest development in techniques for artificial reproduction of livestock; namely, the transplantation of ova from one animal to another. Provision is made in the Order for extension of the Department's power to establish and operate artificial insemination centres. Noble Lords may be interested to learn that the service operated by the Department is the only such service available to farmers in Northern Ireland to cover all techniques of artificial reproduction of animals and to include, in particular, ova transplantation.
Provision is also made for greater control over the practice of artificial reproduction of animals by private operators and trade in semen or ova through licensing of practitioners and premises. These controls will apply, for instance, to the farmer wishing to practise "Do-it-yourself" artificial insemination in his own herd unless the semen is obtained from his own sires, to veterinary surgeons practising the ova transplant technique and to commercial developments such as selling or importing semen or ova. Provision is made for wider powers of enforcement of the provisions of the Order and for a higher maximum fine for offences.
I want to make it clear that no immediate or significant swing away from the present public artificial insemination service in Northern Ireland is foreseen. Nevertheless, it is known that many pedi- 92 breeders and larger milk and beef producers are becoming interested in "Do-it-yourself" artificial insemination and that as soon as the ova transplant technique becomes a viable proposition they are likely to turn to this method of reproduction as well. The proposals in this Order are intended to make easier such developments while maintaining essential controls over the health and quality of livestock in Northern Ireland. Finally, I should say that the measure has been welcomed generally by those interests in Northern Ireland likely to be affected by its provisions. My Lords, I beg to move.

§ Lord BELSTEAD
My Lords. I support this Order. I appreciate the noble Lord's statement towards the end of his remarks, that this service by the Ministry of Agriculture in Northern Ireland has played a very great part in preserving the quality of livestock for which, of course, Northern Ireland is famous. There is just one question of which I have not given the noble Lord notice and I should be perfectly content if he wrote to me upon it. I should be interested to know whether the fees which are charged in the Provinces are at the same level as those which are charged in the rest of Great Britain. At a time when farmers are looking at all their profit margins and costs, I should like to know the answer to this question and this seems to me to be the moment when I might put it.

§ Lord DONALDSON of KINGS-BRIDGE
My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for the general welcome he has given to this provision. As to fees, my understanding is that they are comparable but I should like to write with an accurate assessment to the noble Lord. Apart from that, I can say only that I am grateful that this important piece of legislation, which to some extent anticipates legislation in Great Britain, will be accepted here.

§ Lord WINTERBOTTOM
My Lords, I beg to move that this House do now adjourn during pleasure until 7.45 p.m.