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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 4 Dec 1947

Vol. 109 No. 4

Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Refining of Sugar.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether his attention was directed to the statement, attributed to the President of the British Board of Trade, concerning the refining, in Great Britain, of sugar for this country; whether he will state if the Irish Sugar Company purchased, in Peru, a quantity of brown sugar; whether the sugar in question was refined in great Britain; the total quantity of refined sugar so dealt with in the present year; the over-all cost of such sugar delivered to the premises of the Irish Sugar Company; the grounds on which Peruvian sugar was refined in Great Britain rather than in the factories of the Irish Sugar Company; and if it is now the settled practice to divert the treatment of imported sugar from Irish to British factories?

In December, 1946, Comhlucht Siuicre Eireann, Teo., arranged for the purchase in Peru of a quantity of raw sugar. This was the only kind of sugar that could be bought at the time. Portion was imported and distributed as raw sugar. The balance was sent to Great Britain for refining. The total quantity of the refined sugar imported from Great Britain in the present year amounted to 8,210 tons. This sugar was not delivered to the premises of the Irish Sugar Company but, when landed at Dublin at a cost of £65 2s. 6d. a ton, was distributed direct to the wholesale trade. It was not found practicable to refine the Peruvian sugar at the factories of the Irish Sugar Company because, at the time the sugar came to hand, there was an acute shortage of fuel and a lack of adequate transport and storage facilities. There is no settled practice of having imported raw sugar refined in British factories rather than in Irish factories. The question will be decided as and when it arises in the light of the ability, or otherwise, of Comhlucht Siuicre Eireann, Teo., to have the work done efficiently in its own factories.

Is it now the case that there is an economic problem in Peru and Cuba as a result of an excess of sugar which they cannot sell?

The Deputy's information is out of date.

My information is not out of date.

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