asked the Minister for Supplies whether he can state approximately what quantities of (1) superphosphate, (2) sulphate and muriate of potash, (3) sulphate of ammonia, nitrate of soda and nitrachalk, will be available or imported between now and May 1st, 1940.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Artificial Manures.
The quantities of these commodities at present available are sufficient to meet immediate requirements and active measures are being taken to ensure that additional supplies will be available in future. In present conditions it would not be possible to say now what quantities will be imported between this date and the 1st May next.
Is the Minister in a position to say that he expects to have as large a quantity of these materials for distribution in the spring of the coming year ah we had last year?
I would not go so far is to say that. The circumstances in relation to each of them are different.
Does the Minister agree with me that the further he can go in making forecasts of this kind, the easier it will be for the public to co-operate with him in getting an equitable distribution? While admitting the difficulty of doing that, will the Minister take steps between now and Christmas to form some kind of estimate in order to enable those who wish to co-operate with him, so to co-operate?
The position is generally satisfactory but it is not possible to say what the position is going to be six months ahead. I do not anticipate that there will be any real difficulty in maintaining a supply of fertilisers of some kind, but in relation to some particular types there may be a difficulty in getting any supply at all.
Mr. Brennan
Will the Minister say if the importation of fertilising manures is still restricted by a quota order ?
That is a separate question.
The quota is not a restrictive one.
But it is restricted to those who have licences to import. If all of us were invited to co-operate with the Minister and if we were permitted to get these commodities where we could, in addition to what the Minister could get, it is quite possible we would be able to get additional supplies. So long as the quota restriction exists, only those who hold licences as importers can bring the stuff in. Therefore, I submit that Deputy Brennan's question is relevant and it would help greatly if an affirmative reply was given that the Minister did propose to remove restrictions and was prepared to invite all and sundry to get supplies.
Deputies must get out of the habit of making brief speeches by way of supplementary questions. This particular question has no mention of quota orders which may affect supplies.