asked the Minister for Agriculture if it is a fact that (a) the duty on seed oats imported from Scotland has been increased by a further £10 per ton; (b) if he will state when the new duty came into force; (c) whether any notice was given to seed merchants of the proposed change; (d) whether the change in duty was made public through the Press or otherwise; (e) whether any compensation will be given to merchants who had seed oats loaded for shipment before being made acquainted with the change in the amount of the duty.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Duty on Seed Oats.
(a) The Executive Council on 3rd instant made an Order entitled the Emergency Imposition of Duties (No. 4) Order, 1932, Amendment Order, 1933, increasing the duty on oats imported into Saorstát Eireann from 7/6 to 22/6 per cwt., with a preferential rate increased from 5/- to 15/- per cwt.; (b) the Order came into force on and from 7th instant; (c) no notice of the proposed increase in duty was given to seed merchants; (d) a notice of the making of the Order appeared in the edition of "Iris Oifigiúil," published on 7th instant; (e) no compensation is payable to seed merchants who had consignments of foreign oats loaded for shipment before the Order came into operation, or before they were aware that it was in force.
As it is coming near the time for sowing, will the Minister let the farmers of Cavan know where they can obtain seed? They are unable to get it from Scotland, where it usually came from.
Dr. Ryan
As I stated on the last day, if the Department of Agriculture is communicated with, it will put applicants in touch with those who have seed oats on hand.