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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 1 Dec 1926

Vol. 17 No. 6

CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - CUSTOMS CLEARANCE AT CORK.

asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that a large consignment of biscuits from Messrs. MacFarlane, Lang & Co., for Cork City merchants, which arrived at the port of Cork on 10th November, 1926, had not been cleared by the Customs Authorities a week later, although, it is stated, the Clyde Shipping Company guaranteed to pay any extra Customs duty which might be imposed by the Customs Authorities; whether any other complaints regarding delays in Customs clearances at this port have been reported to him, and whether he will investigate this matter and issue instructions that clearances be expedited.

I have had inquiries made, and I find that any delay that occurred in the clearances of the consignment in question was due in the first place to the fact that the importer's agents made incorrect entry of the goods which involved an underpayment of duty, and in the second place to the fact that the agents were not prepared to make the deposit necessary to cover the shortage in the duty paid, pending the production of corrected documents. The required deposit was made on the 18th instant and the goods were released on the same day.

A few complaints have been received as to delay in the clearance of imported goods at Cork. These were fully investigated, and in no case could any delay be attributed to the Customs Officers. The necessity for issuing instructions on this matter does not therefore arise.

Can the Minister say whether there has been any complaint in regard to delay in the delivery of Irish-made biscuits?

I have not heard of any.

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