asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether any commission, secret or otherwise, was paid to a Deputy in respect of coal imported into this State from Africa during the period of office of the former Government, the quantity of coal so imported, the quality of the coal, the date of import, the amount of the commission, if any, paid to the said Deputy and what has happened to that coal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Import of Coal from Africa.
I am not in a position to say whether a Deputy was paid commission in respect of coal imported from Africa during the period of office of the former Government. In the circumstances, the remainder of the Deputy's question does not appear to arise. I would, however, refer the Deputy to an answer to a previous question about imports of coal from South Africa which was given on the 14th April, 1948.