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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 18 Feb 1943

Vol. 89 No. 6

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Licence to Export Fruit Trees.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state why an application to his Department on 1st February for a licence for the export of fruit trees, unsaleable in this country, had not been replied to by 12 days later, considering that the lifting season is so limited and ends with the month of February.

An application dated 1st February was received in my Department for a licence to export apple trees. Some of the trees proposed to be exported are of varieties required in connection with the fruit tree planting schemes administered by my Department. It has been necessary to make further inquiry in the case with a view to deciding to what extent a licence may be granted to the applicant. The inquiries are not yet complete, but it is hoped to come to an early decision in the matter.

Mr. Galvin told me that he wrote on the 21st January and on 30th January for a licence and that the trees which he proposed to export were not suitable for this country. They give a lot of employment, and if they cannot get a market for their fruit trees they will have to reduce the number of their employees.

The difficulty is that we do not agree with Messrs. Galvin.

You do not agree?

We do not agree with Messrs. Galvin that the trees are not all suitable for planting in this country.

I have a letter from them saying that they are not suitable.

Mr. Brennan

Is it the Minister's contention that we are really short of suitable fruit trees in this country?

Yes, there is a shortage.

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