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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 9 Jun 1926

Vol. 16 No. 7

CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - DELIVERY OF DUTIABLE PARCELS.

SEAN O DUINNIN

asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the delay in the delivery of a parcel addressed to Messrs. Day Bros., Midleton, Co. Cork; that the Customs Authorities notified this firm that duty was payable on it; that the Cork and Midleton Offices, on inquiries being made there, had no information about the parcel; that the Dublin Customs Office was then communicated with, where the parcel was located; that the duty involved was immediately forwarded, but that six days elapsed before the parcel was delivered, and that it took seventeen days, from the date of its despatch, to reach its destination; if he will state the reason for the delay in this case, and whether, in order to facilitate, and to obviate loss to, business people, he will give instructions that in future dutiable parcels be sent direct to the local Customs Office.

A parcel addressed to Messrs. Day Bros., Midleton, from Basingstoke, presumed to be the parcel to which the Deputy refers, arrived at the Parcel Post Depot, Fowler Hall, Dublin, on 27th April last. The usual notice of arrival, with a request to make entry and pay duty, was sent to the addresses on the same date, two forms of entry being enclosed for the convenience of the importers, for return to the Depot, when completed. The entry forms, together with the amount of duty, were received back at Fowler Hall on 5th May, and the parcel was examined and released on the 8th May. The main delay in delivery arises out of the delay on the part of Messrs. Day Bros. in returning the entries with the duty. The delay between the receipt of duty at Fowler Hall and delivery was due to the congestion arising out of the abnormal parcel traffic to be dealt with at Fowler Hall in the early days of the General Strike in Great Britain.

Dutiable goods imported by Parcel Post are dealt with at Parcel Post Depots at which Customs and Postal officials are stationed. These Depots have been set up, with the concurrence of the Revenue and Post Office authorities, at the chief points at which parcels reaching the Saorstát by post can be dealt with. It would not be possible, without incurring a considerable expenditure of public money, to arrange that parcels containing dutiable goods arriving by post should be sent direct to the Customs Offices nearest to consignee's address.

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