asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the basis of calculation on which the price of coal at Waterford has been fixed at £9 per ton.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Waterford Coal Prices.
The price of coal in respect of Waterford was fixed by taking an average of the weighted costs of all coals, including British, American, Polish and coal from the Phoenix Park "dump", which it was anticipated would be available in the Waterford area for the period to the end of February.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary consider this an equitable method of fixing the price of coal for the port which is nearest to the Welsh coalfield?
Would the Parliamentary Secretary think that it is equitable to charge the people of Waterford and Cork £1 per ton more than the people of Dublin? How does he think the people of Waterford and Cork will be able to pay this extra price? How does he think the industrialists in these places will be able to compete with the industrialists of Dublin, Drogheda and other places?
As Deputies are no doubt aware, the price of coal at the port of entry is always lower than in any other part of the country.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary now regret having sold 120,000 tons of coal out of the Phoenix Park dumps at £3 5s. 0d. per ton?
Coal? Slack.
I regret the heavy loss the country was put to by reason of the purchase of that coal.