§ Colonel M'CALMONTasked the Chief Secretary what is going to be done with the Normandy sires recently imported into Ireland; whether he is aware that Mr. T. W. Russell stated during the recent election that they would not be introduced into the country; whether they were then and are still in the neighbourhood of Dublin; who recommended their introduction; was the advisory committee on horse-breeding consulted in regard to them; and what was their cost?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI understand that the Vice-President stated that the Normandy sires would not be sent for service into the country, and this undertaking has been carried out. The sires are retained on the Department's own farms. The horses were purchased for the purpose of an experiment, and it is not the practice to bring questions of an experimental nature before the Committee for advising the Department with regard to their general horse-breeding schemes.
§ Mr. MILDMAYasked the Chief Secretary whether he intends to defer to the practically unanimous view of breeders of 472W horses in Ireland that the introduction of Normandy sires and Normandy blood will be disastrous to their interests and to those of Ireland?
§ Mr. BIRRELLFour of these horses were imported for the purpose of an experiment, which will be carried out on the Department's own farms. The whole matter was fully explained by the Vice-President in a letter to the hon. Member for the Leix Division, which was widely published. I am sending a copy of that letter to the hon. Member.