asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he can state what is the average delay in receiving payment from consignees in Spain of Irish eggs shipped under the terms of the Spanish trade agreement, and whether he will take steps to have a clearinghouse system to ensure prompt payment for Irish exporters.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Payment for Irish Eggs sent to Spain.
Delays varying from three months to nine months have occurred in 1935 between the dates on which the consignees in Spain made application to the Spanish Currency Bureau for authorisations to provide Saorstát currency for payments for eggs exported from Saorstát Eireann to Spain and the dates on which the necessary authorisations were issued. As a result, however, of representations made to the Spanish Government, I understand that by the 30th April last the necessary authorisations were issued in respect of practically all the arrears. Negotiations are at present taking place between the Government of Saorstát Eireann and the Spanish Government with a view to regulating future trade relations between the two countries, and, in this connection, special importance is being attached to ensuring that satisfactory arrangements will be made in the matter of payments for goods exported from Saorstát Eireann to Spain. The particular means by which this may be effected will depend upon the results of these discussions.