asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state in respect of the past 12 months the number of horses slaughtered in Ireland and exported for human consumption, and what effect this trade is having on the high-grade carcase meat industry in this country.

The answer to the first part of the question is "None" and the second part does not therefore arise.

I would refer the Deputy to the second paragraph of my reply to a question by Deputy O'Malley relative to this subject on 6th June.

May I ask the Minister if he is aware that an average of 85 horses per week are slaughtered for this trade and that they are sent to England and to Belgium for human consumption?

Where?

In Ireland.

I would be very much obliged to the Deputy for fuller and better particulars of a trade of which I have no knowledge and which, as far as I understand, is being conducted extra-legally, if the facts are as the Deputy states.

If I send the Minister information on the subject, will he undertake to have the matter investigated?

I am always at the Deputy's disposal.

Further arising out of the reply, is the Minister also aware that, according to official returns, 16,646 horses were exported in 1955 to Belgium for this meat trade for human consumption?

If the Deputy says these figures appeared in the official statistics I will gladly accept his word. I have not got them by me at the moment.

Is the Minister aware that horses exported from this country to Belgium are solely for human consumption?

No, I am not so aware.

And that horses are not permitted into Belgium as working horses?

I am not so aware.

If I send the Minister information I have, will he undertake to investigate it from that point of view?

I will investigate anything the Deputy sends me if he wishes to send it. I should, however, say we have no information as to what uses horses may be put when they are sent to continental consignees, except that no horse can leave this country for consignment to the Continent or elsewhere, unless our veterinarians are satisfied it is in a fit condition to undertake work the moment it is landed. No diseased horse, no injured horse, no old horse or worn-out horse can be exported from any port in Ireland.

I will send the Minister the information I have and then, with your permission, I will ask a question later on as a result of the investigation made by the Minister.

The Deputy, of course, does not require my permission ever to ask a question.