asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether, in view of the fact that his proposal to impose a Customs duty of 40 per cent. on ply yarns wholly of cotton, linen, or hemp, included in the Finance Bill, 1935, was passed by the Oireachtas only in July, 1935, he will state what are the circumstances which caused him to increase this tax to 100 per cent. ad valorem as from the 21st September, 1935, by Emergency Imposition of Duties (No. 76) Order, 1935.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral—Answers. - Customs Duties.
From the information which was received in my Department I considered that the increase in the Customs duty was necessary to ensure adequate protection of the Saorstát industry.
Will the Minister say what kind of examination was carried out originally as a result of which he was satisfied that 40 per cent. was enough, when immediately afterwards he considered 100 per cent. was required?
Certain changes in the circumstances occurred in the meantime which justified the increase.
Will the Minister say what possible changes could occur in the circumstances of an industry that would warrant him raising a tariff from 40 per cent. to 100 per cent. in a couple of months?
Perhaps these matters had better be discussed when the duty comes before the Dáil for confirmation.
Will the Minister be in a position to give us more information then, and will he be in the position to give the House the explanation which I consider is wanted?
The position will not be different, on the whole, though more particulars may be given.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the average number of persons employed weekly on the manufacture of articles made wholly or mainly of iron or steel, or a combination of iron and steel, referred to in Emergency Imposition of Duties (No. 81) Order, 1935, during the year ended the 31st December, 1934; and if he will state whether the imposition of the duty imposed by the said Order will increase this employment; and, if so, to what extent.
Certain of the articles covered by the Customs duty referred to were manufactured to a small extent in the Saorstát during the year 1934. Particulars of the number of persons engaged in the production of these articles during that year are not available.
A new industry is to be established in the Saorstát for the manufacture of all the articles referred to in the Order, and will create new employment the extent of which I am not in a position, at this stage, to state.
Will the Minister say if any estimate has been made as to the amount of employment that will be given in the new circumstances?
When the matter comes up, yes.
Will the Minister be in the position to give us more information when the Emergency Order comes up for discussion later on?
Probably.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the average number of persons engaged weekly during the year 1934 in the manufacture of preparations consisting wholly or mainly of almonds, and in subjecting them to processes other than shelling; and if he will state whether the duty imposed by Emergency Imposition of Duties (No. 72) Order, 1935, will increase this employment; and, if so, if he will state to what extent.
The articles referred to in the Order in question were not produced in Saorstát Eireann in the year 1934. The new industry about to be established as a result of the imposition of the duty will create new employment, the extent of which I am not, at this stage, in a position to state.
Is it because the extent of that employment will be infinitesimal?
No.
I take it the Minister expects to employ hundreds of thousands of persons shelling almonds?
No.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the average number of persons employed weekly on the manufacture of vitreous enamelled hollowware of wrought iron or wrought steel, or of a combination of both, referred to in Emergency Imposition of Duties (No. 73) Order, 1935, during the year ended the 31st December, 1934; and if he will state whether the imposition of the duty imposed by the said Order will increase this employment; and, if so, to what extent.
The articles referred to in the Order in question were not produced in Saorstát Eireann in the year 1934. The new industry about to be established as a result of the imposition of the duty will create new employment, the extent of which I am not, at this stage, in a position to state.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the average number of persons employed weekly on the manufacture of paper felt, floor coverings, cork carpets, referred to in Emergency Imposition of Duties (No. 74) Order, 1935, during the year ended the 31st December, 1934; and if he will state whether the imposition of the duty imposed by the said Order will increase this employment; and, if so, to what extent.
The articles referred to in the Order in question were not produced in Saorstát Eireann in the year 1934. The new industry about to be established as a result of the imposition of the duty will create new employment, the extent of which I am not, at this stage, in a position to state.
Has the Minister made any estimate as to the amount of employment which the new industry is likely to give?
A general estimate has been made.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the average number of persons employed weekly on the manufacture of (1) racquets and component parts, (2) hockey sticks and component parts, (3) cricket bats and component parts and stumps, (4) posts for use in certain games referred to in Emergency Imposition of Duties (No. 77) Order, 1935, during the year ended 31st December, 1934; and if he will state whether the imposition of the duty imposed by the said Order will increase this employment; and, if so, to what extent.
So far as I am aware, no employment was given during the year ended 31st December, 1934, in he manufacture of the articles mentioned in the question. About 15 persons were, however, engaged in the stringing of racquets on the 1st September, 1934, but I am not in a position to say whether this figure represents the average number of persons employed weekly in the process. A new industry for the manufacture of the goods is to be established which will create new employment, the extent of which I am not in a position, at this stage, to state.
Does the Minister consider it altogether consistent with his principles to have articles required for foreign games manufactured in this country?
It is consistent with my principles to have all classes of articles made in this country.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the average number of persons employed weekly on the manufacture of leather (other than bridle leather, crupp leather, hogskin leather, reptile skin leather, chamois leather, and leather commonly known as chamois leather) referred to in Emergency Imposition of Duties (No. 80) Order, 1935, during the year ended the 31st December, 1934; and if he will state whether the imposition of the duty imposed by the said Order will increase this employment; and, if so, to what extent.
The only articles included in the Order which were made in the Saorstát in the year 1934, are sole and insole leather and harness leather. Information in regard to the average number of persons employed weekly on the manufacture of these types of leather, in the year 1934, is not available. The numbers of persons, however, employed at the 1st March, 1934, and at the 1st September, 1934, respectively, in the production of sole leather and harness leather, were 91 and 104. New industries for the manufacture of other types of leather are being established and additional employment will be provided as a result of the Order. At this stage, however, I am not in a position to state the extent of such additional employment.
asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the total amount of coal licensed to be imported from Great Britain and Northern Ireland, free of duty, during the months June, July, August and September, 1935; the bodies or persons to whom such licences were issued; the total amount of coal for which such licences were granted to each such body or person, and the reasons for the issue of these licences.
The preparation of a return giving the information asked for would involve an expenditure of time and labour which could not be justified. Further, there are serious objections to the disclosure of information, obtained officially, relating to the business of individual traders.
Information as to the total quantities of coal, etc., imported from Great Britain and Northern Ireland under licence, free of duty, during the months of June, July, August and September, 1935, is, however, readily available. Particulars of such importations will be circulated with the Official Report.
Licences for the importation of coal, free of duty, are issued to persons or bodies who satisfy the Minister for Industry and Commerce that the coal is required for the purposes of any of the following industries:—metal foundries, brick works, potteries and glass works, malting, brewing, distilling, bacon factories, creameries (including condensed milk, cheese and margarine factories), biscuit manufactures, railways, the textile industry (including the manufacture of woollens, jute, linen, cotton and poplin), manufacture of fertilizers, gas companies (up to a maximum of 500 tons per annum for any one concern), grain drying, lime burning, and bunkering coal.
Following are the particulars referred to:—
Particulars of importation of coal, etc., from Great Britain and Northern Ireland under licence, free of duty, in the months of June, July, August and September, 1935.
|
Month 1935 |
Anthracite |
Gas |
Household |
Steam |
Total |
|
tons |
tons |
tons |
tons |
tons |
|
|
JUNE |
2,135 |
363 |
200 |
22,508 |
25,206 |
|
JULY |
1,447 |
— |
590 |
25,621 |
27,658 |
|
AUGUST |
1,630 |
380 |
325 |
26,457 |
28,792 |
|
SEPTEMBER |
548 |
— |
1,190 |
25,113 |
26,851 |
|
5,760 |
743 |
2,305 |
99,699 |
108,507 |
Do I understand from the Minister that he will include in that answer, to be put in the Official Report, information as to the total amount of coal so imported?
Yes.
Are we to understand from the Minister's reply that the only people who are now required to pay a tariff on coal are domestic users of coal such as the tenement dwellers of the City of Dublin? Does he think it equitable that a tax of that kind, having been imposed on coal, should be taken off the backs of every prosperous concern in the country, but left on the backs of those least able to afford it?
The Deputy has misinterpreted the information given in the answer.
I do not think I have.
Would the Minister say if those exemptions also apply to coke? Are persons who import coke for the purpose of running a foundry also entitled to a licence?
Yes.
If there has been a violation of that, will the Minister consider a case which I am prepared to put up where a foundry owner was refused a licence?
Yes. That may happen also.
asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the total amount and value of the ply yarns wholly of cotton which were so held in the Free State at midnight on the 31st day of July, 1935, as to become liable to Excise duty of 40 per cent. imposed by Emergency Imposition of Duties (No. 70) Order, 1935, and the total amount of such Excise duty collected (a) on the 1st day of August, 1935; and (b) the total amount collected since the 1st day of August, 1935.
As the information requested by the Deputy is not yet available, perhaps the Deputy would be good enough to repeat his question in a fortnight's time.