HC Deb 10 July 1913 vol 55 cc601-2W
Mr. PATRICK WHITE

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the fact that the prohibitory Orders against Irish cattle has year were issued under Sub-sections 17 and 37 of Section 22 of the Act of 1894; whether these Sub-sections were originally enacted in the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, 1878, and when they were under the consideration of Parliament an undertaking was arrived at that Great Britain and Ireland would be treated as one country; whether, having regard to the fact that the Parliamentary bargain then made has been violated by the President of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, he will take the opinion of the Irish Law Officers as to the legality of the Orders issued; and what action should be taken to preserve an open market for Irish cattle in accordance with the intentions of Parliament?

Mr. BIRRELL

The answer to the first paragraph of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the remaining part of the question I have nothing to add to the Prime Minister's reply to the hon. Member's questions of the 9th June, further than to say that it is not proposed to refer the matter to the Irish Law Officers.

Mr. PATRICK WHITE

also asked the Chief Secretary whether, having regard to the fact that there is not in Ireland any foot-and-mouth disease of animals at present, and that therefore sheep and lambs can be subjected to detention on this side for humane reasons only, he will use his influence with the Prime Minister and the President of the Board of Agriculture to appoint a Committee of Inquiry before which exporters of Irish animals to Great Britain can lay their grievances and submit evidence of the pecuniary loss which they state they are now suffering in consequence of detention of stock in cases where it is wholly unnecessary; and whether, seeing that owners of stock are more largely interested in their proper treatment than anyone else, he will have the Committee fully representative of their interests?

Mr. BIRRELL

The detention regulations are understood to be maintained with a view principally to more satisfactory precaution in case disease should arise. It is not proposed to intervene in regard thereto in the way suggested in this question.