asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the total amount of machinery imported into the Free State for installation in the beet factories at Tuam, Mallow and Thurles, and the countries from which this machinery was imported; and if he will state whether any agreement was entered into that these countries would take Irish exports by way of some return; and if he will state with whom, and in what countries these agreements were made and the quantity and value of the particular articles of Irish products referred to in these agreements, and the particular quantity and value of these articles which have actually been imported by these countries in accordance with these agreements and the period during which they were imported.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Importation of Machinery.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to a question addressed to me on this subject on the 30th November, 1933, to which I have nothing to add.
Is it the position then that there was nothing but dope in the statement made that considerable exports of agricultural produce were going to be taken by the countries that got the orders for the machinery.
The answer to the Deputy's supplementary question is in the negative.
The Minister's answer is an entirely negative one, that is, that any exports were taken from this country in relation to any agreement that may have been made with the countries from which we were importing this machinery for the sugar beet factories.
The Deputy's assumption is, as usual, incorrect.
Will the Minister give some idea of the amount of exports these countries took in connection with any agreement.
I refer the Deputy to my reply of November 30th, 1933.