asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann, Teoranta, have imported, or propose to import, sugar this year, as was done last year; or whether they propose to secure all their requirements from home-grown beet.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann: Sugar Imports.
9.
Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann have imported 1,500 tons of raw sugar since the beginning of this year, and I am informed that they propose to import further quantities later in the year.
Would the Minister not consider that it would be better to give the tillage farmer his full quota of beet rather than import sugar from Cuba or some country inside the Iron Curtain?
Sugar is imported for the purpose of assisting the export trade. Any extension of the beet acreage would not of necessity ensure that the sugar produced therefrom would be sold.
Is the Minister aware that, although there has been no increased acreage of beet, there has been an increase in the amount allocated to farmers in the past two years?
That is true, because the yield per acre has increased.