asked the Taoiseach if he will state approximately the number of head of cattle represented by the sum of £439,448 paid for wet hides and the sum of £51,581 paid for dry and dry-salted hides imported into this country during the year ending the 31st March, 1950.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hide Imports.
The number of wet hides imported in this country in the 12 months ended 31st March, 1950, was 109,336. In the same period the number of dry and dry-salted hides imported was 18,214.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary agree that it would be very desirable to increase our export of killed beef in order to obviate the necessity for importing this number of hides?
I quite agree with that objective, but some of the hide imports consist of leather of such a kind that no development of home hides would obviate the necessity for these imports.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary indicate what proportion of the figure mentioned by him would come within that category?
I could not say, but if the Deputy wants the information I might be able to get it for him.