asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the amount of chocolates and sweets, imported from Europe, at present on sale in Dublin and throughout Eire.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Imports of Chocolate.
Particulars of the quantities of imported chocolates and sweets at present on sale in this country are not available. In the period from 1st April, 1946, to 24th January, 1947, imports of chocolates from continental Europe, to which it is assumed the Deputy refers, amounted to 27,388 lb. Imports of sweets from this source were negligible.
I wish to take this opportunity of denying the implied allegation which appeared under a photograph prominently displayed in a newspaper published last Sunday that cargoes of sugar were recently sent as a gift to the Dutch people and were re-exported to this country in the form of chocolate. No sugar was sent to Holland in 1946 or 1947. Two thousand tons of sugar did go to Holland in 1945, when the Dutch people were in desperate need of it.
Can the Minister confirm that in sending chocolates to this country the Dutch are denying themselves chocolates and sweets and are selling the chocolates simply in order to obtain sterling, to pay for other things that they require from sterling countries?
I take it that it is in order to get foreign exchange that they are selling chocolate, and we are very glad to get it.