asked the Minister for Supplies if he is aware that salt for fish-curing has not been available in the Castletownbere Peninsula for some months; that large catches of mackerel had to be dumped into the sea as a result and, if so, will he state what action he proposes to take to ensure a supply of salt for future fish-curing in this district.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Salt for Fish-Curing.
I am not aware that salt for fish-curing has not been available in the Castletownbere Peninsula for some months. I am aware that supplies were short for a period, but as soon as representations to this effect were made from fish-curing areas, including the Castletownbere Peninsula, steps were taken to transfer salt from other areas to these fish-curing areas. The additional quantities which it was possible so to provide were necessarily limited. I am unable to give a guarantee that unlimited quantities of salt will be available for future fish-curing in the Castletownbere Peninsula, but all possible steps will be taken to ensure that reasonable requirements are met. If, notwithstanding the steps which have been taken, cases of shortage should come to the Deputy's notice, I shall be glad if he will send me the names and addresses of the traders concerned.
I understood the Minister to state that there was no shortage of salt for fish-curing in Castletownbere at any period. Is that what the Minister said?
The Deputy asked me if I were aware that salt for fish-curing has not been available in the Castletownbere Peninsula for some months. That is not correct. There was a period during which there was a scarcity of salt there, due largely to the improvidence of local merchants who made no provision to lay in stores when plentiful supplies were available. As soon as these representations were received by me, I arranged for the transfer from other areas into the Castletownbere area of sufficient supplies to ensure, at any rate, that the complaint ceased.
It has been suggested in that area that some importers would not get permits to import from the Minister. Is there any truth in that suggestion?
At present, the importation of salt is controlled, and only a licensed importer can import salt. That has been the situation for some short time past. Before that, however, not merely were there no restrictions, but there was even a period when plenty of salt was available. These merchants were urged time and again by me to take advantage of that abundant supply to lay in stocks for themselves, and in most parts of the country they did so.
Is there much difficulty in getting a permit, because some people might be able to get it at times when they would not be on the Minister's list? The Minister understands that there is a difficulty in getting an export permit from the English Minister?
There is a fee of £20.
Will the Minister say what fee is charged?
It varies according to the nature of the business in which the importer is engaged.
Might I ask why should the importation of salt be controlled?
Because its export is controlled, and because it is necessary that we should know the quantity coming in, and be able to direct that supply into the parts of the country in which it is required.
Is there a fee of £25 charged?
To the wholesale importer, yes.
Has the Minister refused a permit to an importer to import salt?
Some of the difficulties which arose in Castletownbere and other west coast towns were due, not to the refusal of import licences, but to the failure of the persons who normally imported salt into those areas to apply, stating that they were getting out of the business.