asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the value of (a) tomatoes, (b) bananas, and (c) other fresh fruits which are due to arrive in Dublin or have arrived from the Canary Islands on the Wiril; further, if he has had investigated the profit margin of importers, agents and other middlemen handling this cargo so as to ensure thatsupplies will be made available for the Christmas trade at the lowest possible prices to the consumer.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fruit Imports from Canary Islands.
I have no information as to the value of consignments of (a) tomatoes, (b) bananas, and (c) other fresh fruits which are due to arrive in Dublin or which have arrived from the Canary Islands on the Wiril, and I have not had any investigation made in relation thereto.
In view of the fact that the cargoes of tomatoes, bananas and other fresh fruits have arrived in Dublin in the past week or ten days, would the Minister take steps to see that by the time the middlemen get their profit these commodities will not be excessive in price to the consumer or any more excessive than they were for the last Christmas trade?
I will not do anything about it. These prices are not controlled.
Then the middlemen can charge what they like?
The Minister has no interest in prices.
The reason I put down the question was to find out if these commodities could be made available at a cheaper price to the general public for Christmas.