asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (1) the quantity of coal imported by Córas Iompair Éireann during 1950; (2) the quantity imported in vessels owned and registered in the Republic of Ireland and (3) the amount paid by Córas Iompair Éireann to Messrs. Hughes, shipowners, Liverpool, during 1950.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Coal Imports.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (1) the quantity of coal imported by the Electricity Supply Board during 1950; (2) the quantity imported in vessels owned and registered in the Republic of Ireland and (3) the amount paid by the Electricity Supply Board to Messrs. Robertson, shipowners, Glasgow, during 1950.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 30 and 31 together. The imports of coal by Córas Iompair Éireann and the Electricity Supply Board respectively in 1950 were 205,325 tons and 280,505 tons. None of this coal was imported in vessels owned and registered in the Republic. The information required to answer the last part of these questions is not normally available in my Department. I do not consider it desirable to ask these undertakings to furnish information of a kind which would not normally be disclosed in respect of other commercial undertakings.
Is the Minister aware that there are Irish owned vessels lying idle, and that there are Irish seamen being paid off? Could the Minister not do something to protect the interests of Irish seamen and of Irish registered shipping?
In so far as we can, we naturally would desire to do that, but coal is very often, in fact, nearly always as far as I know, bought c.i.f., and so we have no function in the matter. We would be very glad at the moment to get it in either Irish or English ships.