I move:—
That a sum not exceeding £3,000,000 be granted to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending 31st March, 1946, for the Alleviation of Distress in Europe due to War.
On the 18th May I gave the Dáil particulars of the foodstuffs and other supplies which we proposed to allocate for the relief of the distressed populations in Europe. I gave the Dáil on that occasion particulars of the various articles and quantities involved. These have since been published widely and are probably already fully familiar to Deputies, so that I need hardly go into that aspect of the matter again.
This Vote of £3,000,000 is required to provide for the expenditure which may be involved. The Vote covers the cost of foodstuffs, live stock and other commodities included in the offer, as well as whatever expenditure it is necessary to incur on preparing for their shipment and transporting them to their destinations. The Vote does not cover the cost of certain commodities like blankets and cooking apparatus, to the value of £86,000, which form part of stocks held by the Department of Defence.
The French, Italian, Belgian and Dutch Governments have accepted our offer to make available certain quantities of food and other products by way of aid to their suffering populations. They have also assured us that the necessary shipping will be forthcoming with the least possible delay. A difficulty has arisen with regard to the supply of tin for tinning meat, but it is hoped that at least a small amount may be procured by the Governments interested.
The distribution amongst the four countries concerned of the products available is being arranged according to the most urgent needs of the different populations concerned, though it must be said that any one of the Governments could take the total supplies available here and still be very far indeed from meeting the urgent needs of the population. The requirements of Europe during the coming year in money value would reach a total of several hundred million pounds, and it can be seen how relatively small our contribution is going to be. The main burden of sending food to Europe falls on the United States and Great Britain, especially on the former, though Sweden and Switzerland have already taken a splendid part in the work of relief. We are trying to do our share.