asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if the review into the arrangements for medical inspection on the arrival of the mail boat, which he stated on October 30th, 1941, was being carried out has been completed; and, if so, if he is now prepared to dispense with this inspection.

The arrangements for the medical inspection of passengers arriving at Dún Laoghaire were reviewed towards the end of 1941 but it has been decided not to undertake a complete medical examination of each passenger. The method of inspection originally adopted has served its purpose. It causes very little delay or interference with the landing of passengers. It is not proposed to dispense with it at present.

The Parliamentary Secretary says that the medical inspection has served its purpose. Will he say what was the purpose of it? Was it simply to secure employment for some doctors and nurses because, as far as medical inspection is concerned, as he knows perfectly well, it is utterly useless?

The public health authorities are satisfied that it is serving a useful public health purpose.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary say how the mere walking in front of a doctor, who then proceeds to hand out a green card, which says that one has been medically examined, can serve any useful purpose from a public health point of view?

It depends, I think, on the doctor's powers of perception.

They must be very strange.