I move: "That the Dáil agree with the Committee in Financial Resolution No. 23."
Financial Resolutions—Report (Resumed). - Financial Resolution No. 23—Customs.
This Resolution has reference largely to boots and shoes. Are the tariffs here imposed intended for the purpose of prohibiting the import of these articles?
Oh, no.
Does the Minister think they will yield a substantial revenue?
They will yield practically no revenue. In fact, the import of boots and shoes is controlled by a Quota Order.
Then what is the object of putting a tariff on them?
There was a tariff on already.
Does the Minister seriously say to me that while he is prohibiting the import of certain commodities by a Quota Order that the tariff placed on them will not collect revenue?
I assume we will get some revenue.
Unless the Minister wants to raise revenue out of them, why is he placing a duty on them? Is the Labour Party standing for this? It was put on first to protect shoes. Then that tariff was raised so as to prevent the importation of certain classes of shoes. Next they were prohibited by Quota Order, and now the Minister tells us we are raising revenue from the tariff to be imposed on certain types of shoes which were to have been brought in under our Quota legislation.
It is for the equalisation of prices.
A nice word that—the equalisation of prices.
Question put and agreed to.