§ Mr. DEVLINasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he is now in a position to state 1531W what means the Department proposes to adopt to protect the public, and especially the working-class public, in Ireland from being sold margarine instead of butter?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLThe duty of enforcing the Sale of Food and Drugs Act primarily devolves on the local authorities. The Department can, in certain circumstances, have samples of articles of food taken for analysis, and can proceed in default of the local authorities for offences under the Acts; but it would be obviously impossible for the Department to enforce the Acts generally. All they can do is to stimulate local authorities to greater activity and to supplement their work under the Acts. The Department have three officers employed in the taking of samples. Many successful prosecutions have resulted from their action, and others are pending.