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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 31 Oct 1935

Vol. 59 No. 2

Written Answers. - Import Licences.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the total number of applications, if any, which have been made for licences to import thread and ply yarns made wholly or mainly of cotton, flax or hemp, or of a combination of these materials, without payment of the duty of 100 per cent. imposed by the Finance Act, 1935, and the quantity and value of such articles sought to be imported under such licences; and if he will state the total number of such licences issued and the total quantity and value of the articles authorised to be imported under such licences, and the reasons for permitting this import without the payment of duty; and if he will state the total number, if any, of such applications refused, and the total amount of such articles covered by the applications so refused, and the reasons for the refusal of licences in these cases.

The preparation of the detailed information asked for in the question would involve an expenditure of time and labour which would not be justified. Numerous applications have been made to my Department for licences for the free importation of the goods mentioned in the question. All such applications for normal quantities of the goods are granted if evidence is produced that supplies of cotton yarn are not obtainable from the Irish Sewing Cotton Co., Ltd., Westport, or linen yarn from the Irish Linen Thread Company, Dublin. Certain types of cotton threads and ply yarns which are not being produced here at the moment are being permitted to be imported free of duty under licence in normal quantities.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the total number of applications, if any, which have been made for licences to import ply yarns, wholly of cotton, linen, or hemp, without payment of the duty of 40 per cent. imposed by the Finance Act, 1935, and the quantity and value of such articles sought to be imported under such licences, and if he will state the total number of such licences issued and the total quantity and value of the articles authorised to be imported under such licences, and the reasons for permitting this import without the payment of duty; and if he will state the total number, if any, of such applications refused, and the total amount of such articles covered by the applications so refused, and the reasons for the refusal of licences in these cases.

The preparation of the detailed information asked for in the question would involve an expenditure of time and labour which would not be justified. I may say that numerous applications for licences for the importation of the goods in question were made and granted for the reason that goods of Saorstát manufacture were not procurable. I would, however, refer the Deputy to my reply of the 19th June last, in which I indicated that the issue of licences for the importation, free of duty, of cotton thread for re-sale was suspended.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the number of applications, if any, which have been received by him for licences to import almonds, and almond preparations, without payment of the duty imposed by Emergency Imposition of Duties (No. 72) Order, 1935, and the value of the almonds and almond preparations sought to be imported under such licences; and if he will state the total number of such licences issued, and the total value of the almonds and almond preparations authorised to be imported under such licences, and the reasons for permitting this import without the payment of the duty; and if he will state the total number, if any, of such applications refused, and the total amount of the almonds and almond preparations covered by the applications so refused, and the reasons for the refusal of licences in these cases.

Licences for the free importation of the preparations included in the Order are not being granted unless satisfactory evidence is produced that goods of Saorstát manufacture cannot be procured. In one instance the issue of a licence was recommended for the importation of 20 tons of almonds on which further processes of manufacture were to be carried out. A licence was also recommended for the free importation of a consignment of a half-ton of dutiable almonds which were in port at the date of the duty. Licences have been refused in other cases in the absence of evidence that articles of Saorstát manufacture were not procurable. The rest of the information asked for in the question could not be supplied without an expenditure of labour which would not be justified in the circumstances.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the number of applications, if any, which have been received by him for licences to import articles made wholly or mainly of iron or steel or a combination of iron and steel, without payment of the duty imposed by Emergency Imposition of Duties (No. 81) Order, 1935, and the value of the articles made wholly or mainly of iron or steel or a combination of iron and steel sought to be imported under such licences, and if he will state the total number of such licences issued, and the total value of the articles made wholly or mainly of iron and steel, or a combination of iron and steel, authorised to be imported under such licences, and the reasons for permitting this import without the payment of the duty; and if he will state the total number, if any, of such applications refused, and the total amount of the articles made wholly or mainly of iron or steel, or a combination of iron and steel, covered by the applications so refused, and the reasons for the refusal of licences in these cases.

I do not consider that the labour involved in compiling the detailed information asked for would be justified. I may say, however, that generally I am recommending the issue of licences for the free importation of such goods included in this Order as were not liable to duty prior to the making of the Order but which are now dutiable provided satisfactory evidence is given that such goods or suitable substitutes of Saorstát manufacture are not yet procurable. At the moment, I am considering certain representations for an alteration of the licensing arrangements pending the production of the goods in the Saorstát.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the number of applications, if any, which have been received by him for licences to import leather (other than bridle leather, crupp leather, hogskin leather, reptile skin leather, chamois leather, and leather commonly known as chamois leather) without payment of the duty imposed by Emergency Imposition of Duties (No. 80) Order, 1935, and the value of the leather sought to be imported under such licences; and if he will state the total number of such licences issued, and the total value of the leather authorised to be imported under such licences, and the reasons for permitting this import without the payment of the duty; and if he will state the total number, if any, of such applications refused, and the total amount of the leather covered by the applications so refused, and the reasons for the refusal of licences in these cases.

Numerous applications for licences for the importation, free of duty, of leather, have been received in my Department. It would not be practicable, however, to state the number of such applications and the value of the leather sought to be imported under such licences without an expenditure of labour which would not be justified in the circumstances. The issue of licences has been recommended in all cases for the importation of normal quantities of such leathers as were not liable to duty prior to the date of the Order for the reason that goods of Saorstát manufacture are not yet procurable.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the number of applications, if any, which have been received by him for licences to import (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, without payment of the duty imposed by Emergency Imposition of Duties (No. 77) Order, 1935, and the value of the (1) recquets and component parts, (2) hockey sticks and component parts, (3) cricket bats and component parts and stumps, (4) posts for use in certain games sought to be imported under such licences; and if he will state the total number of such licences issued, and the total value of the (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, authorised to be imported under such licences, and the reasons for permitting this import without the payment of the duty; and if he will state the total number, if any, of such applications refused, and the total amount of the (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, covered by the applications so refused, and the reasons for the refusal of licences in these cases.

As regards tennis racquets, licences were confined to firms already engaged or about to engage in the stringing of these articles and licences were only granted for unstrung racquets. Seven such applications were received but I am not in a position to state the value of the consignments. The number of applications granted was seven. Licences were recommended in these cases for the purpose of maintaining the employment on the stringing of racquets pending the manufacture of the racquet frames in the Saorstát. In all cases the licences were issued in the light of the previous importations of the applicants.

A few licences were granted for complete hockey sticks which were in transit or on order prior to the imposition of the duty. No applications have been received and no licences recommended in respect of cricket bats and component parts. One application for posts for use in games was granted on the grounds that the goods were in transit at the date of the imposition of the duty. No licences were refused for these goods.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the number of applications, if any, which have been received by him for licences to import vitreous enamelled hollow ware of wrought iron or wrought steel or of a combination of both, without payment of the duty imposed by Emergency Imposition of Duties (No. 73) Order, 1935, and the value of the vitreous enamelled hollow ware of wrought iron or wrought steel or of a combination of both sought to be imported under such licences; and if he will state the total number of such licences issued, and the total value of the vitreous enamelled hollow ware of wrought iron or wrought steel or of a combination of both, authorised to be imported under such licences, and the reasons for permitting this import without the payment of the duty; and if he will state the total number, if any, of such applications refused, and the total amount of the vitreous enamelled hollow ware of wrought iron or wrought steel or of a combination of both covered by the applications so refused, and the reasons for the refusal of licences in these cases.

I am recommending the issue of licences for the importation free of duty of the type of goods mentioned in the Order in quantities to meet normal requirements, pending the production of the goods in the Saorstát. I do not consider that the labour involved in compiling the other detailed information asked for in the question would be justified.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the number of applications, if any, which have been received by him for licences to import paper felt, floor coverings, cork carpets, without payment of the duty imposed by Emergency Imposition of Duties (No. 74) Order, 1935, and the value of the paper felt, floor coverings, cork carpets, sought to be imported under such licences; and if he will state the total number of such licences issued, and the total value of the paper felt, floor coverings, cork carpets authorised to be imported under such licences and the reasons for permitting this import without the payment of the duty; and if he will state the total number, if any, of such applications refused, and the total amount of the paper felt, floor coverings, cork carpets covered by the applications so refused, and the reasons for the refusal of licences in these cases.

No recommendations have been made for the issue of licences for the importation, free of duty, of any of the goods mentioned in the question. It is not possible to state the number of applications for licences received, nor the value of the goods sought to be imported under such licences without an expenditure of labour which would not be justified in the circumstances.

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