asked the Taoiseach if he will state (a) the total quantity and (b) the total cost of imported oils or fats used in the manufacture of (i) ice cream and (ii) margarine or other butter substitutes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Imported Oils and Fats.
The particulars requested by the Deputy are not available, as separate data are not obtained at the Census of Industrial Production for imported and home produced materials used in the manufacture of the commodities in question. The total quantity of vegetable fats and oils used in 1957 for the production of margarine and compound fats amounted to 136,657 cwt. at a cost of £899,260 and the corresponding quantity of animal fats and oils used amounted to 48,689 cwt. at a cost of £258,841. Separate particulars concerning the quantity of oils and fats used in the manufacture of ice cream are not available. While it is not possible to identify in the import figures the particulars of the materials imported solely for the manufacture of margarine compound fats or ice cream, data are available for the imports of the oils and fats which could be used for this purpose. These are given for the year 1957 in a statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle. I propose to circulate in the Official Report.
Following is the statement:—
IMPORTS of certain descriptions of oils and fats in 1957.
|
Import List Description |
Quantity |
Value |
|
cwt. |
£ |
|
|
Animal oils: |
||
|
Oleo oil |
785 |
4,923 |
|
Other |
6,649 |
41,404 |
|
Vegetable oils: |
||
|
Palm |
63,834 |
298,509 |
|
Palm kernel |
34 |
206 |
|
Cotton seed: |
||
|
Edible |
1,900 |
11,603 |
|
Inedible |
41,962 |
267,881 |
|
Ground nut |
15,665 |
104,945 |
|
Cocoanut |
6,897 |
33,609 |
|
Other |
10,242 |
85,972 |
|
Hydrogenated oils and fats |
797 |
4,958 |
In view of those figures, would the Taoiseach not agree that in order to help the dairying industry it would be advisable to curtail imports of these fats and oils for the manufacture of ice cream and margarine and thus create an outlet for dairy products the export of which we are at present subsidising?
That is a complex question.