asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that there is a large quantity of foreign bacon coming into the Saorstát at the present time; if it is in fact being sold at very low prices to the detriment of the Irish-produced article; if a quantity of it is being sold as Irish, and if he would consider the advisability of compelling traders to label all bacon which they offer in their shops, prominently, with the country of origin so displayed that the consumer can readily see what he is purchasing.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - IMPORTS OF FOREIGN BACON.
The imports of bacon for the first six months of the present year are considerably less than in the corresponding period last year, the figures being 214,000 and 175,000 cwt. respectively and the values £1,111,000 and £856,000. Imported bacon is generally inferior in quality to the home-produced article and sold at lower prices. If the Deputy considers that the home-produced article should be protected from this competition it is open to him to recommend those engaged in the bacon industry to apply to the Tariff Commission.
As stated by the Minister for Lands and Agriculture in reply to Deputy Baxter on the 23rd February last, investigation shows that as a rule, trade descriptions within the meaning of the Merchandise Marks Acts are not applied to imported bacon. There is at present no power to compel retailers or others in the Saorstát to give any indication of the country of origin of imported bacon. The matter has been receiving attention for some time past, and I am considering the inclusion of provisions dealing with the question in a Bill to amend the Merchandise Marks Acts which is under discussion with other Departments that would be concerned.