asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that many farmers and others have paid their annual licences for shotguns and cannot receive any cartridges; and whether, in view of this, he will consider rationing cartridges amongst licensed gun holders so that each will receive equal share.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rationing of Cartridges.
Owing to the difficulty in importing component parts, there is a very substantial reduction in the number of shotgun cartridges produced by Irish Metal Industries, Limited, Galway, who are, however, distributing the supplies available to ammunition dealers on the basis of these dealers' purchases in 1941. Ammunition dealers have been requested to have regard to the number of cartridges formerly purchased by shotgun licensees, in the distribution of their limited supply of cartridges to their customers. It should be possible, therefore, for shotgun licensees generally to obtain a proportion of the number of cartridges purchased by them in preceding years.
I have decided that the difficulty and expense of administering a scheme of rationing cartridges, so that each shotgun licensee would receive the same number of cartridges, would not be justified.
Is the Minister aware that there are farmers and others who have shotgun licences for the past two years who have not received any cartridges, and will he take steps to see that the dealers will give them a supply of cartridges?
I have taken those steps in the form of a request to dealers to distribute their supplies fairly.
Will the Minister investigate cases which are brought to his notice?
Certainly.
Is the Minister aware that, in the absence of cartridges for shotguns, small bore rifles which take pellets could be used? Has the Minister any idea as to whether these pellets are to be had?
The only cartridges manufactured in the country are shotgun cartridges.
Would it be possible to start the manufacture of these pellets?
We could not possibly hope to do it now.