asked the Minister for Finance whether the duty on golf caddy cars had been removed or altered by any recent customs order; whether there is any import duty now applicable to golf caddy cars and, if so, what is the rate of such duty.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Duty on Golf Caddy Cars.
9.
Golf caddy cars were liable to special Import Levy at the rate of 60% ad valorem (full rate) or 40% ad valorem (preferential rate) up to 16 April, 1959, when they were removed from the scope of the Special Import Levy. As from that date a protective Customs duty was imposed on them at the same rates.
Is it not a fact that the import levy on these golf caddy cars was taken off in the recent Budget?
It was taken off and put on again.
The import levy was taken off and a duty was put on?
Yes.
Would the Minister say why that was done in respect of these particular items when racing boats and equipment, about which I asked a question recently, were not treated in the same fashion? Why is there a difference?
The Deputy said originally there was no duty on caddy cars. The same rate of duty remains, but it is under a different heading. That is all the difference it made. It was hoped these cars might be made here and, as soon as we arrive at the point when racing boats are made here, we shall remove the duty on those.
The Minister will agree I was correct in stating that the levy was taken off golf caddy cars. That was done evidently in the hope that firms would manufacture the cars here and would require protection. In view of the fact that no firms are making the particular type of racing boat and equipment to which I refer, would the Minister not agree now to reconsider the position and remove the levy?
I do not understand how racing boats come into this question at all.
This question was put down at the request of the Minister for Finance for the purpose of enabling him to give the Deputy "a sock in the jaw".
It is an inspired question.
Exactly.