asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he will state the number of foreign shipping companies or combines using Saorstát ports and having business premises, offices, stores, wharfage accommodation and other necessary facilities on long leases from Port or other Authorities in the Saorstát; whether all or any of these shipping companies or combines are registered in the Saorstát, or have any of their vessels been registered in the Saorstát, and, if not registered, whether he will introduce legislation requiring these shipping companies or combines and their vessels using Saorstát ports to become registered in the Saorstát; whether he can state the value of trade (approximately, if not accurately) carried between British and Saorstát ports by those shipping combines from 1914 to 1916, inclusive.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - FOREIGN SHIPPING COMPANIES.
The London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company; the British and Irish Steam Packet Company, and the City of Cork Steam Packet Company, having their principal places of business in Great Britain, have also business premises, offices, stores and wharfage accommodation at ports in An Saorstát. I am not in a position to state the periods of the leases held by these Companies or whether the properties held by them have been bought or leased from Ports or other public Authorities. All the vessels belonging to these companies and trading to ports in An Saorstát are registered at ports in this country.
Five other steamship companies, having their principal places of business outside and engaged in the "home trade" with Irish ports, have business premises, offices, stores and wharfage accommodation at Saorstát ports. None of the vessels belonging to these companies is registered in this country. In addition to these five, two steamship companies which are registered and have their principal places of business in the Saorstát have recently come under the control of one of the companies whose head offices are situated in Great Britain. Of the vessels owned by these two companies, some only are registered in the Saorstát. Several foreign shipping companies engaged in the trans-Atlantic trade and in the foreign trade have also premises and facilities at Irish ports, but none of the vessels belonging to these companies is registered at a port in An Saorstát. It is not proposed to introduce legislation requiring shipping companies using Saorstát ports to be registered here or to have their vessels registered here. The original returns from which the statistics of Irish external trade for the years 1914 to 1916, inclusive, were compiled showed only the total quantities of the different classes of goods imported and exported at each of the ports in Ireland. Separate particulars were not given for imports or exports carried by the respective shipping companies or combines, nor were particulars available to distinguish trade with British ports from trade with other foreign ports. Accordingly, it is not possible to state, even approximately, the value of the trade between British and Saorstát ports carried by certain shipping companies during the period referred to.
Will the Minister state why it is not proposed to get boats trading with Saorstát ports on the register?
That is a different question.