§ Captain REDMONDasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether the Irish Department of Agriculture have taken any steps recently to cope with outbreaks of swine fever in Ireland; and what became of the Government Grant which was specially earmarked for the purpose of coping with the disease?
Mr. BARRIEIn the Department's veterinary research laboratory, now in course of construction, serum will be prepared to be used in dealing with swine fever outbreaks. Consequently, a portion of the Grant received for swine fever purposes is,, with the sanction of His Majesty's Treasury, being utilised in the construction of the laboratory. I may also inform the hon. Member that the published Returns show that the number of outbreaks of swine fever in Ireland is on the decrease.