asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (a) the tonnage discharged at the ports of Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Waterford by Irish Shipping, Limited, during the past five years, and (b) the amount of goods scheduled for delivery at Limerick, Clare, Tipperary and Kerry which were discharged at ports other than Limerick over the same period.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Shipping Cargoes.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will request Irish Shipping, Limited, to discharge all cargo intended for Limerick, Clare, Kerry and Tipperary in Limerick docks as a large portion of the cargo is at present discharged in Dublin and Cork, which necessitates costly road haulage, and acts to the detriment of the port of Limerick, the dockers and amalgamated trades.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 14 together.
There is no information available in my Department as to the tonnage discharged at various ports by individual ship owners nor of the ultimate destinations of cargoes unloaded. It would place Irish Shipping, Limited, at an unfair disadvantage with their competitors if detailed information was given about their trading and I do not propose to call for a special return.
The question of the port of discharge of a cargo is a matter for settlement between importers and the shipping company and I do not think that I would be justified in intervening in it.