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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 19 Mar 1947

Vol. 104 No. 17

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Gifts of Food.

asked the Minister for External Affairs if, in view of the serious position here arising from the scarcity of food, particularly bread, butter, sugar and meat, he will cause the proposed gifts of quantities of these foods to European countries, under the scheme for the alleviation of distress, to be cancelled until such time as production of such foods is in excess of our own requirements.

The suggestions contained in the Deputy's question are completely at variance with the facts. The programme for the alleviation of distress in Europe at no time included gifts of bread, and no gifts of butter have been proposed or made since the year before last. There is no shortage of meat in this country, and all but a small quantity of the sugar included in this year's programme was shipped before the end of October. It was the strike at the sugar factories in the following month which necessitated the reduction of the ration to its present level.

The shipment of all the other foodstuffs included in this year's relief programme, with some exceptions, such as the canned meat, was also effected before the end of last October. Arrangements for shipment have always been made with due regard to the home supply position. This has been the invariable practice in the past, and the unworthy efforts now being made to attribute to the relief shipments shortages which are obviously in no sense due to them, reflect nothing but discredit on those who make them.

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