asked the Minister for Finance what steps he proposes to take to remove the embargo on the importation of coffee essences, and to substitute an adequate duty thereon, as recommended by the Fiscal Commission; further, whether he is aware that the continuance of this embargo is depriving the Free State of an important source of income, and is, in addition, causing much inconvenience to a large number of persons who use these essences?
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - EMBARGO ON COFFEE ESSENCES.
The recommendation made by the Fiscal Inquiry Committee in their second interim report that the existing import prohibition on coffee essences should be removed, and an adequate import duty substituted is at present under consideration, and I will make a statement as to the Government's intentions in due course. The prohibition is, in any case, a Statutory one, and can only be removed by legislation in the Oireachtas. I am not at all sure that I can accept the Deputy's argument that the removal of this prohibition would necessarily augment the Free State Revenues. If the import prohibition were removed, the imports of coffee essences would displace pro tanto imports of ordinary coffee which now pay duty, and it does not by any means follow that the Free State Revenues would gain as a result of the change, but the subject is one which can scarcely be dealt with by way of question and answer.
I understood that prior to the embargo there was a duty on these essences?
It dates from 1850.