asked the Minister for Supplies if he will take steps to acquire a number of motor tyres and have them issued to doctors and clergy who need them in discharge of their duties; and what steps, if any, he proposes to take to see that motor tyres are made available in all cases of necessity.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Motor Tyres.
The rubber supply position has necessitated the suspension of the manufacture of tyres for light motor vehicles and consequently new tyres for such vehicles can no longer be provided. Arrangements are at present in operation whereby the Irish Dunlop Company will supply remoulded tyres required for immediate use on vehicles engaged on essential services, provided the owners of such vehicles are in a position to forward to the company sound casings suitable for remoulding. It is open to persons not in possession of suitable casings to obtain them from owners of laid-up vehicles. I am not aware that any widespread difficulty is being experienced by owners of vehicles engaged on essential services in acquiring serviceable secondhand tyres or tyres suitable for remoulding.
The compulsory acquisition of tyres on laid-up vehicles is a step which would give rise to considerable difficulty, and I consider that such a scheme should only be brought into operation in circumstances of compelling necessity and would not at present be justified.
Am I to understand from the Minister's reply that there are absolutely no new tyres available for distribution in the country?
There are none being distributed.
Well, they are there but they are not being distributed.
There are none being manufactured.
Are there any at present being manufactured for distribution?
A very small quantity.
Why does not the Department of Supplies distribute those tyres to people whose business depend on them? Will the Minister give consideration to this?
No.
The Minister is prepared to let people who are depending for their livelihood on these tyres starve rather than distribute them.
That is a statement not a question.
The Deputy's question relates to tyres for private motor vehicles and for such vehicles there is a service for remoulding tyres suitable for use on them.
Is the Minister aware that a bread van could not be styled a private motor vehicle?
The answer given does not apply to bread vans and neither does the Deputy's question.
You have written to me——
The Deputy's original question is confined to doctors and clergy.
I will take it up again with the Minister.
On a point of order, may I direct the attention of the Chair to this, that the question is not confined to doctors and clergy? The last paragraph of the question speaks of "all cases of necessity".
Looking at the question, it seems to me that the second part referred to the first clause only. There is only a comma between them.
A semi-colon.