asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the total value of (a) trees, shrubs and bushes, (b) other plants not in flower, (c) rhubarb stools, (d) roots of flowering plants, intended to be covered by the Emergency Imposition of Duties (No. 49) Order, 1934, imported into Saorstát Eireann during (1) the 12 months ended 31st December, 1933, and (2) the six months ended 30th June, 1934, and the principal countries of origin; whether the Customs duty of (a) 20/- the cwt., (b) 6d. the pound, (c) 6d. the pound and (d) 6d. the pound, imposed by the Order is a new duty, and if not, what was the amount of the previous duty; the total revenue which it is anticipated will be received as a result of this duty on these articles during the first 12 months following the date of coming into operation of the Order; and if he will state the total number of firms engaged in the manufacture of these articles in Saorstát Eireann, and the average number of persons employed; whether any licences have been applied for and issued to any particular persons to import these articles without payment of duty, and if so, if he will state to whom such licences have been issued, the quantity of such articles covered by these licences, and any special conditions under which the licences have been granted, whether any applications for licences to import these articles without payment of duty have been refused, and if so, for what reason.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Import of Trees, Plants and Rhubarb Stools.
Dr. Ryan
The figures of imports asked for cannot be furnished as the descriptions in the import lists for the periods mentioned under which imports of the commodities dutiable under the Order are returned include other commodities not so dutiable.
The commodities to which the Order applies have not previously been subject to customs duty on importation.
As the Order has been made for the furtherance of the production in the Saorstát of the commodities dutiable therunder and not for revenue purposes, the duty has been fixed at a rate which it is anticipated will render it unprofitable to import the commodities, duty paid.
The commodities to which the duty relates are not in the nature of manufactured articles.
Licences for importation free of duty have been granted only in the following cases:—
(1) Fruit tree stocks for budding of approved types not available in Saorstát Eireann.
(2) Fruit trees and plants of which an adequate supply is not available in Saorstát Eireann, to meet the requirements of committees of agriculture and private growers for the current planting season.
(3) Palms, ferns and azaleas indica which are not propagated in Saorstát Eireann.
(4) Specimen plants not available in Saorstát Eireann required for botanical gardens and other places in which arboricultural and horticultural research is carried on.
The number of plants in respect of which licences have been granted is approximately 949,000. The number of plants in respect of which licences have been refused is approximately 151,000.
I am not prepared to give the names of the persons or firms to whom licences have been granted.
Is the Minister prepared to say upon what grounds licences have been refused?
Dr. Ryan
Licences are refused because they do not come within the categories mentioned of plants which are required in this country and which we have not got here.