I move that the Bill be now read a Second Time.
Committee on Finance. - Appropriation Bill, 1958—All Stages.
Leave granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to apply a certain sum out of the Central Fund to the service of the year ended on the 31st day of March, 1958, and the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1959, to appropriate to the proper supply services and purposes the sums granted by the Central Fund Act, 1958, and this Act, and to make certain provision in relation to borrowing—(Minister for Finance.)
Agreed to take remaining stages now.
Will the Minister tell us whether the Bill contains anything that is not normally in an Appropriation Bill?
It is exactly the same as others.
Entirely according to precedent?
Except that the figures are different. Otherwise, it is the same.
It is not of a pattern with the Finance Bill then.
Question put and agreed to.
Bill considered in Committee.
Section 1 agreed to.
SECTION 2.
Question proposed: "That Section 2 stand part of the Bill."
How is the figure of £73,502,220 made up?
The Book of Estimates totals up to £110,002,220. We have already voted on account £36,500,000 and this is the difference between these two sums.
Is not there a sum included for Supplementary Estimates?
£73,502,220 plus £35,500,000 in the Vote on Account, make up the amount in the Book of Estimates.
Were there not some Supplementary Estimates taken too late for inclusion in the Central Fund Act?
Yes. Section 1 of the Bill deals with Supplementary Estimates.
I want to ask the Minister for Industry and Commerce a question. He has not given us much value to-day. When we were discussing his Estimate and a Bill called the Tea Bill —this is a very important matter for the people in my constituency and in the West of Ireland—he promised that if any tea merchant did not care to subscribe to the new company that was to be set up, he would still be able to import tea from a country of origin on a basis of absolute equality with the importing company the Minister was setting up under the Bill. I accepted that undertaking on the strength of the Minister's assurance and he was asked for the same assurance in the Seanad and gave it. He was asked to make it very explicit. He did, and Senator Barry, I think it was, said that if the Minister made it as clear as that, he accepted the Minister's word. Since then, when any wholesale tea importer has applied to them to service transport to this country of their purchases in a country of origin, the company has demanded that the independent merchant will not only recoup the company for its outlay on transport and handling charges but will pay them a commission of 3d. per lb. on the tea.
If the firms constituting this company are to get 3d. a lb. from every other wholesaler, who is in trade in competition with them, it really means almost a differential of 6d. a lb. in favour of the restricted number of tea importers who are members of the company. That is not what the Minister promised to us in this House and in the Seanad.
I am not in a position to deal with it now. I got no notice whatever of this matter.
No notice?
I do not think the Deputy has quoted me correctly, in the first instance.
I took pretty good care to look up what the Minister said here and in the Seanad. I ask Deputies, was not it made as clear as crystal to us that, if this company were set up, any merchant in Ireland could import tea on a basis of absolute equality, provided he would import it from the country of origin? I am now reporting to the House that this company is demanding a 5 per cent. commission which amounts to 3d. a lb. on tea and I want to direct the attention of the House to the fact that that not only puts a levy of 3d. a lb. on the tea belonging to the independent merchant but, inasmuch as the levy goes into the coffers of the restricted number of wholesalers who belong to this company, they are at the substantial advantage of 6d. a lb. That is not the understanding upon which that Bill was passed through this House and I want to protest emphatically against it. It is creating a monopoly in the hands of a restricted few merchants who will handle the whole 22,000,000 pounds of tea that come into this country. At the present time we are getting bad tea at high prices and, if they are allowed to continue on that basis without competition of any kind, we shall get worse tea at higher prices.
It is the duty of any Deputy who is concerned, particularly for people living in the country, to register an emphatic protest against that and I particularly protest against the Minister for Industry and Commerce seeming to be indifferent to the subject.
If the Deputy wanted to have any statement on the matter, he would at least have notified me that he intended to raise the matter. He knows quite well that arrangements would have to be made. He is raising the matter in a manner which will preclude any answer.
The Minister is not so innocent. He was approached by letter and by an individual yesterday.
The Deputy was told that too, was he?
Of course I was told and it was done after full consultation with me.
The Deputy can assure the Senator that it will never happen again. A confidence is broken and, once broken, will not be broken twice.
All I am concerned with is that if an undertaking is given by a Minister we ought to be able to take it at its face value. That undertaking was given. It is not being carried out and that is not just. No Minister of this State need get so high in his hat that he considers it to be an indignity to be called to account by this House for an undertaking he gave it on a prior occasion. There is no other opportunity of raising it. The company did not start seeking this levy until the Act came into force and there was no opportunity of putting down a question about it. I raise it now because it is a matter of consequence on two grounds: (1) it is unfair to independent traders and (2) it is a betrayal of an undertaking given to this House on foot of which that Bill was passed through the House. I did mention the matter in the House yesterday on the Cereals Bill. It was the only place I could.
Tell the Senator concerned that he will never walk into my office again to discuss his private affairs.
The Minister has a duty to serve the public and he cannot select the public like that.
There is only one tea merchant a member of the Oireachtas.
I am a tea merchant. Let me declare interest at once, if that is any shame. I have been for 30 years and everybody knows it.
I apologise. There are two.
Question put and agreed to.
Sections 3 to 5, inclusive, agreed to.
Schedule agreed to.
Title agreed to.
Bill reported without amendment, received for final consideration and passed.
This is a Money Bill within the meaning of Article 22 of the Constitution.