asked the Minister for Finance if he will state if the newspaper reports of the arrival of a cargo of timber in Dublin, ex Russia, are correct; and, if so, if he will state the circumstances under which currency was made available for this purchase especially in view of the exportation from the State of large quantities of timber in recent weeks.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Purchase of Timber Cargo.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I am informed that although there are surplus stocks of certain kinds of timber in the country, that is not the case as regards all classes. Even if there had been no re-export it would still have been necessary to purchase timber of the type contained in the cargo to which the Deputy's question relates. Foreign exchange facilities were approved last July, for the purpose to which the question refers, in accordance with Government directions as regards use of currency for essential imports.