asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether it is a fact that Grain Importers (Éire), Limited, recently exported to the Tito Government of Yugoslavia a quantity of wheat valued at almost 1,000,000 dollars; and, if so, whether he can state the reasons for this export.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wheat Exports.
Mr. O'Higgins
Grain Importers (Éire), Limited, made no export of wheat or sale of wheat to the Government of Yugoslavia.
The only sale of wheat made by the company in recent months was the sale from stocks held in Canada of some parcels of inferior Manitoba wheat, which, for more than one reason, the company found it uneconomic to bring to Ireland.
To whom was it sold?
To a Swiss company, I understand.
Mr. O'Higgins
Can the Minister say the ultimate destination of the wheat?
No.
It was not Eindiguer.
I have no information on that subject. The position is that last spring 72,000 tons of No. 5 Manitoba wheat were purchased with the intention of using the wheat for stock feeding. This is a very inferior wheat and would be unsuitable for any other purpose; but, owing to the decline in the demand for white pollard and to certain restrictions upon storage space here, Grain Importers, Limited, decided to resell the wheat.
The Swiss was not Eindiguer by any chance, was it?
The Deputy can get that information on his left.
It was probably Maximoe. The Minister for Finance knows all about him.
Mr. O'Higgins
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether it is a fact that wheat has been recently exported from this country; and, if so (a) the quantity so exported; (b) the price received, and (c) the countries dealt with.
Wheat has not been exported from Ireland of late. The other parts of the question, therefore, do not arise.
Mr. O'Higgins
Am I to understand that the Minister's reply is that no wheat consigned to this country in the last four weeks was reconsigned to any other country?
That is right.
Mr. O'Higgins
Am I further to understand that no wheat coming from Canada or any other part of the American continent consigned to here was reconsigned elsewhere?
That is correct. Somebody was pulling the Deputy's leg.
I think the Minister is pulling the leg of the House.