I move:—
That Dáil Eireann hereby approves of the Sugar (Prohibition of Import) Order, 1955.
Under the Sugar (Control of Import) Act, 1936, the Government was empowered to prohibit, by Order, the importation of sugar, except under licence. Import licences may be granted to the sugar company only and this Order requires the approval of the Oireachtas. The Order is on the same pattern as has operated for the past 19 years. The only change this year is that it is desired that the period of prohibition of imports be altered from 12 months to 20 months. The purpose of the alteration is to provide that, in the case of any future annual Orders which may require to be made, the period of six months within which the Order must be confirmed shall be altered from May to October as at present, during which both Houses for part of the time are in recess, to the period January to June, which would generally prove more convenient for getting the Orders through the House. In future, therefore, when this Order has been approved, Orders in respect of future prohibitions will be in respect of the 12 months' period from January to December and will provide greater facilities for consideration of the Orders by the House.