asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state to the latest available date, in cases where he was consulted by the Minister for Finance where there were applications for licences to import without payment of the duty on matter printed on paper and imported in bulk quantities under Reference No. 15 of the First Schedule of the Finance Act, 1932 (a) the number of cases where he recommended the issue of licences; (b) the number of cases where he did not recommend such issue, and (c) the reasons for refusal in each case.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Licences to Import Printed Matter.
I would refer the Deputy to my replies to similar questions yesterday in this House.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, might I refer him to the answer which he gave to eleven questions which I asked yesterday on the same subject matter, which is as follows: "That the reason for refusal would in general be non-compliance with the statutory conditions prescribed in the Finance Act or the schedules thereto." Might I ask the Minister what are the statutory conditions referred to and why are articles liable to duty "essential raw materials" in one trader's case and not in the other?
I presume because the Minister did not consider that the articles in respect of which the licence was applied for were essential.
What are the statutory conditions?
I can only presume.
Surely not in a case where he was consulted as Minister for Finance, and the Minister is now answering as Minister for Finance.
He is not. He is answering for the Minister for Industry and Commerce.
Does he forget what he did as Minister for Finance?
It might be well if the Deputy forgot what he did when he was Minister for Industry and Commerce.
I suggest that the Minister might forget his whole past, as he has almost succeeded in forgetting the greater portion of it.