§ Mr. JOYCEasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if the port of Limerick is open for the shipment of store cattle under the usual restrictions applying under the present conditions; is he aware that no case of foot-and-mouth disease has been found in Limerick or the surrounding counties for the past thirty years; and can he say whether the embargo will be taken off altogether in the near future?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Limerick and the surrounding counties have been free from foot-and-mouth disease for many years past. The1830W only British port to which cattle are shipped from Limerick is Glasgow, and the Department understand that the whole of the available accommodation at the landing places at Glasgow is at present required for the animals exported from Ireland for slaughter. If the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, as soon as accommodation at Glasgow is available, decide to add Limerick to the ports in Ireland from which cattle for store purposes can be sent, the Department will make the necessary arrangements for inspection, etc., at Limerick.