asked the Minister of Health what action he proposes to take to ensure that diseased poultry does not reach the market for sale to the public, in view of the fact that the Meat Inspection Regulations of 1963, which placed a legal duty on local authorities to inspect meat at slaughterhouses, did not cover poultry.

Local authorities have power under the Food and Drugs, Act, 1955 to examine poultry carcases for fitness for human consumption. They also enforce the provisions of the Food Hygiene (General) Regulations, 1960 at premises where birds are slaughtered. In 1961 my Department advised local authorities on a suitable system of poultry inspection.