§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), having regard to the injury already done to Mullingar by restrictions affecting cattle, sheep, and pigs, and to the fact that horses do not take foot-and-mouth disease, whether the usual horse fair will be allowed to be held there on Monday, 11th November, subject only to restrictions as to stabling; and whether an announcement on the subject will be made at the earliest possible moment?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLHaving regard to the fact that no less than thirty-five out-breaks of foot-and-mouth disease have occurred in and around the town of Mullingar since 18th October and to the risk of spreading the disease to other parts of the country by mediate contagion, owing to the great influx of people and hordes that take place on the occasion of such fairs, the Department regret that they cannot see their way to allow the horse fair to be held on the 11th November.