asked the Minister for Finance if he will state why the operation of certain duties announced in his Budget statement has been deferred until July 1st, and if he has taken or proposes to take any action to prevent importation into the Saorstát of the articles affected in excess of the normal amount of such importation.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - DEFERRED BUDGET DUTIES.
SEAN MAC GIOLLA 'N RIOGH
As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the Deputy to the explanations given in the course of the debate on the Finance Resolutions. As regards the second part, I do not anticipate that any great amount of forestalling will occur in the case of any of the duties in question, but if it should be found that any of the goods are being imported in excessive quantities, the question of taking restrictive action will be considered.
Is the Minister in a position to inform the Dáil what have been the importations of these commodities since the Budget statement as compared with importations of a similar kind for the previous two or three weeks?
There have been no abnormal importations except in the case of boots, and the abnormal importation in that case was not very serious.
Is the Minister aware that 75 tons of soap came into the port of Dublin on May 1, as compared with 7 tons on the 19th April?
I am not aware of what happened, but I presume that an equal amount is not coming in every day.
Is the Minister aware that twenty times the normal quantity of boots arrived at the North Wall within the last seven days?
No, less than three times.
Will the Minister make further inquiries?
I will.