asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if his attention has been directed to press reports that the vessel Volokolamskhas arrived in Dublin from Russian ports with a cargo of timber for this country; and, if so, if he will state whether an import licence for this cargo was issued by his Department; and, if so, if he will take steps to prevent imports from behind the Iron Curtain in future.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Imports of Russian Timber.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if permits have been granted or arrangements entered into with Government sanction under which Russia is to be a regular supplier of timber to the Irish Republic.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state for what concern and for what purpose the timber which arrived in Dublin from Russia on 22nd October, 1953, is required.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 4, 5 and 6 together. No licence or other facility is required from my Department for the import of timber.
Is it the position, then, that anybody in this country can trade freely with the Soviet Union or with any other country behind the Iron Curtain? In other words, there are no restrictions?
That is not correct. I have not said so.
The Minister has stated that no licence is necessary; therefore anyone can buy timber from behind the Iron Curtain quite freely.
So far as my Department is concerned there is no control of any kind over the importation of timber.
Might I ask the Minister if we are to take it, then,that Russia will be a regular supplier of timber to this country?
There is no such arrangement either in existence or in contemplation.
Has the Irish Government made any representations for further supplies of Russian timber to this country?
No.
Is it the intention of the Government to permit the entry into this country of Russian timber?
It is not our intention to impose any restriction on the importation of timber.
Is it not possibly a fact that the timber imported from Russia is cheaper than that which can be procured elsewhere for the simple reason that it is prepared and loaded on board ship by sweated labour? If the Irish Government is importing timber from Russia——
It is not.
It is permitting it.
It is not importing timber from Russia or anywhere else. Timber is being imported by private firms in the ordinary course of business. No facility or licence is required.
Does the Minister not consider it desirable to stop such importations?
I do not think it is advisable to put any restriction on the importation of timber.
Are we to take it then that any merchant is free to import timber from Russia at any time he wishes to do so independently of the Minister's Department?
So far as my Department is concerned, no licence is required for the importation of timberand there is no restriction of any kind on the importation of timber.
With the permission of the Chair, I wish to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
You will want to get in touch with the theologians on the Fine Gael Benches first.
Perhaps the members of the Fine Gael Party could more appropriately answer this question.
I will communicate with the Deputy.