asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider suspending during the Christmas period the Special Import Levies on gifts, and if, in view of the control and restriction on the availability of dollars, he will remove the levy on gift parcels from dollar countries.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Import Levy and Christmas Gifts.
While I sympathise with the Deputy's suggestion of exemption for gift parcels, I regret that for administrative reasons it would not be practicable to grant such an exemption either on a permanent or temporary basis, or solely to parcels from the dollar area.
Is the Minister aware that a parcel received in my constituency contained two jackets, two caps and four shirts for children under 11 years of age and that there was a duty of £1 12s 6d. on the parcel? Will he not agree that this is a vicious form of extortion? Will he not agree further that it is a tax on the thrift of our exiles and a brutal assault on their generosity?
I am not aware of the facts of the case to which the Deputy has referred and, therefore, I am not in a position to make any comment as to their accuracy or otherwise. I am, however, aware in relation to gift parcels that it would be very simple indeed for a system of fake gifts to be operated which could not be administratively checked if I gave the concession to which he refers in his question.