PART IV.

Restrictions on the Slaughter of Cattle and Sheep.

20.— In this Part of this Act—

the word “mark” when used as a noun includes any word, letter, figure, or design or any combination of words, letters, figures and designs or any of them;

the word “mark” when used as a verb means the imposing or affixing of a mark by any means, direct or indirect;

the expression “marked cattle” means cattle marked under this Part of this Act in a prescribed manner with a prescribed mark;

the expression “unmarked cattle” means cattle which are not marked cattle;

references to the mark on cattle shall be construed as referring to a prescribed mark imposed or affixed in a prescribed manner on such cattle under this Part of this Act.

21. —(1) An inspector may (subject to the production by him, if so required, of his authority in writing as such inspector) enter at any reasonable time on any land or premises on which cattle are kept or are reasonably suspected by him of being kept and there examine all cattle found by him on such land or premises.

(2) Whenever an inspector, in exercise of the powers conferred by the next preceding sub-section of this section, finds on any land or premises any cattle which are in his opinion suitable for slaughter for human consumption in Saorstát Eireann, such inspector may select all or any of such cattle for slaughter for human consumption in Saorstát Eireann and may determine, in respect of each of the cattle so selected, the earliest date on which it may be so slaughtered, and the inspector shall mark in the prescribed manner and with the appropriate prescribed mark all cattle so selected.

(3) Every mark prescribed for the purposes of this section shall be of such character as to indicate clearly by mere inspection the date intended to be indicated by such mark.

(4) Every person who without lawful authority alters or defaces or permits the alteration or defacement of a mark imposed on or affixed to any cattle under this section or who without lawful authority imposes or affixes on or to any cattle a mark the same as a mark prescribed under this Part of this Act or so closely resembling any such mark as to be calculated to deceive shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding twenty-five pounds or, at the discretion of the Court, to imprisonment for any term not exceeding three months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

22. —(1) It shall not be lawful for any person—

(a) to slaughter for sale for human consumption in Saorstát Eireann any unmarked cattle, or

(b) to slaughter for human consumption in Saorstát Eireann any marked cattle at any time before the date indicated by the mark on such cattle as the earliest date on which such cattle may be slaughtered.

(2) Every person who slaughters any cattle in contravention of this section shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds for each animal in respect of which the offence is committed.

23. —The Minister may determine, from time to time as occasion requires, the number of cattle required for slaughter for human consumption in Saorstát Eireann during any particular period, and the principles on which cattle for such slaughter are to be selected, and on which the earliest date for such slaughter of any particular animal is to be fixed.

24. —(1) The Minister may with the consent of the Minister for Finance at any time at his discretion by order declare that the whole or any particular portions or portion of this Part of this Act shall, as from a specified date not earlier than the date of such order, extend and apply to sheep in like manner as it applies to cattle, but with and subject to such (if any) modifications as shall be specified in such Order.

(2) Whenever the Minister makes an order under this section declaring that this Part of this Act or any particular portions or portion thereof shall extend and apply to sheep, this Part of this Act or such particular portions or portion thereof (as the case may require) shall extend and apply to sheep in accordance with such Order.