asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware of the statement made by the secretary of the Cork Farmers' Union Abattoir and Marketing, Limited, at the meeting of the Cork County Committee of Agriculture on April 2nd, 1938, when he quoted from accounts kept by the society mentioned showing that there is a substantial increase of warbled hides passing through their hands since the scheme started, and if the Minister will state what steps he intends to take to improve the methods of his Department to eradicate the ravages of the warble fly.

I have seen a newspaper report of the statement referred to and find that it is not in agreement with the returns obtained from the Cork Farmers' Union by the Department on the 12th ultimo, which indicated that the percentage of warbled hides dealt with in 1937 showed a slight decrease on that for 1936.

I would point out that the enforcement of the Warble Fly Order is primarily the duty of the local authorities; that the Department do all they can to assist these authorities in carrying out the provisions of the Order but that some local authorities might take a more active interest in this work. I may add that since the Order came into operation there has been a reduction in the number of warbles per beast and also in the number of animals affected.

Will Deputy Brasier deny that it was his own colleagues in the Cork County Council who appointed the warble fly inspectors for the County Cork?

That has nothing to do with it.

It has nothing to do with the question, and is not a supplementary question.