asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will detail the classes and quantities of the various foodstuffs that may be posted to Great Britain from residents in Ireland who may be anxious to send presents of foodstuffs for the Christmas season.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Food Parcels for Britain.
Save for health reasons in exceptional cases licences are not being issued for the sending of gifts of foodstuffs to persons in Great Britain.
Mr. Corish
Will the Minister not concede that the season of Christmas is an exceptional time, and possibly he will grant facilities for that particular period?
We have had considerable experience of this practice and I am quite satisfied that it is in the general interest that it should have been stopped and it should remain so.
Is the Minister aware that a considerable doubt exists in the minds of citizens in relation to the goods that may be sent to Great Britain without being tariffed, taxed or forfeited? In view of that fact, I would like the Minister to publish what he regards as the classes and quantities of various foodstuffs that may be posted to Great Britain by residents in Ireland. The second portion Deputy Byrne's question deals with that. I am not asking this question in any parochial spirit. I am aware that losses have been incurred by many citizens. Anybody who reads the daily papers will see that in the offices at the Custom House there is a lot of goods and I believe 99.9 per cent. of these goods were bought under a misapprehension and those people are the innocent victims of the want of advertising properly the goods that may be sent to relatives on the other side of the channel. Will the Minister undertake to investigate this matter and see that notices are posted up in the various post offices?
The supplementary question which has been addressed to me is somewhat misleading. My information is that there are no foodstuffs that can be sent by parcel post to residents in Great Britain without a licence from my Department.
What about cooked meat?
I am talking in a general way. I think it is wrong to convey to the public that there is any substantial list of goods that can be sent.
Seeing that it is the festive season, could not some facilities be given?
Can people not send spiced beef?
No.
I believe they can.