asked the Minister for Finance if he will state in respect of the articles to which the Emergency Imposition of Duties (No. 5) Order, 1932, refers, namely: (a) coal, (b) cement, (c) electrical goods, (d) sugar and saccharine, (e) sugar goods, (f) iron and steel goods, (1) the ordinary Customs duty, and (2) the additional duty on imports from Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in operation immediately before the 19th February, 1936; (3) the ordinary Customs duty, and (4) the additional Customs duty on imports from Great Britain and Northern Ireland in operation on and from the 19th February, 1936; and (5) the amount of Customs duties which it is estimated will be paid on the imports of each of these classes of articles at the new rates during a period of 12 months.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Customs Duty Statistics.
also asked the Minister for Finance if he will state in respect of those articles to which the Emergency Imposition of Duties (No. 5) Order, 1932, refers, the total value of (1) coal, (2) cement, (3) electrical goods, (4) sugar and saccharine, (5) sugar goods, and (6) iron and steel goods (a) imported into the Free State, and (b) imported from Great Britain and Northern Ireland into the Free State; (c) the total amount of Customs duties paid thereon, and (d) the amount of Customs duties paid in respect of imports from Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
I propose to take the Deputy's two questions together. It has not been possible in the period since the questions were received to extract the information sought. As soon as this is available it will be furnished in writing to the Deputy.
Will the Minister say when he expects the information to be available?
I cannot say.
Does the Minister understand that he is seeking to get the remaining stages of the Confirmation of Duties Bill quickly—if possible, to-day or to-morrow—and does he not understand that we cannot have a satisfactory discussion on Committee Stage without this information?
I understood this Bill was introduced in order to give the Opposition an opportunity of discussing the pact.