I move:
That Dáil Eireann hereby approves of Sugar (Prohibition of Import) Order, 1937 (No. 61 of 1937), made on the 6th day of April, 1937, by the Executive Council under the Sugar (Control of Import) Act, 1936 (No. 16 of 1936).
As Deputies are aware, an Order of this kind is made each year under the Sugar (Control of Import) Act. A comparatively small quantity of sugar has to be imported each year to supplement the home production and to facilitate the distribution of that sugar, and at the suggestion of the wholesale sugar merchants, an exclusive licence to issue it is issued to the Sugar Company. The company distributes that sugar without profit. If there is any difference between the price of imported sugar and home-produced sugar sold, that difference is secured for the benefit of the Exchequer by the device of charging a fee for the licence. In fact, with the rise in the world price of sugar which occurred in the latter part of the year, very little, if any, difference will exist. The quantity of sugar to be imported this year will be considerably smaller than last year, and only during portion of the year. This Order is made to ensure that the same arrangement will operate for the importation of sugar as operated last year.