asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state whether supplies of last season's potato crop became plentiful in Dublin City when new potatoes for domestic consumption were imported recently and that a quantity of these new potatoes was re-exported to Great Britain when home supplies of last season's crop became available; and if he will further state whether the imported new potatoes could not be sold in Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Importation of New Potatoes.
The Deputy's assumption is not correct. Adequate supplies of last season's potatoes became available recently in Dublin as a result of action taken by my Department to bring this about. Market reports go to show that imported new potatoes met a fair demand in Dublin. A licence has been issued for the re-export of 20 tons of imported early potatoes, but I am not in a position to say whether any have actually been sent out.
asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that the Rush and Skerries districts will be in a position to supply new potatoes for domestic consumption from the beginning of June; and, if so, whether he will take steps to ensure that the importation of new potatoes will cease before that time to ensure that a ready market for home-grown new potatoes will not be interfered with.
My information is that no substantial quantity of the Rush and Skerries districts new potato crop will be ready for market as early as 1st June. Importers of new potatoes will doubtless arrange their business with an eye to the availability of the home crop, and to the duty of 28/- per cwt. which will be payable on imports.