Mr. KELLYasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), whether he has any fund under his control from which to recompense the public where they suffer loss through the wrongful action of his officials; whether in such eases the Treasury sanction the payment of compensation to the injured party; and has he applied for Treasury sanction for compensation in the case of loss sustained by Mr. McDermott, of Ballybofey, or has he obtained the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown that he cannot legally pay any compensation?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe Department cannot admit that there has been wrongful action upon the part of any official in this case. The cattle in question belonging to McDermott were not allowed to land at Glasgow, and were returned to Derry. On arrival they were mixed with cattle which had been returned from Heysham and did not suffer in any way by contact. There is no fund for compensation in such cases, and no case has been submitted to the Treasury or to the Law Officers.