asked the Minister for Finance if in view of the severe financial losses suffered by importers of goods subject to special levies in respect of goods imported within a few days of the abolition of such levies on which such levies were paid he will sympathetically consider making an ex gratia payment to such importers by way of relief of their losses.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Abolition of Special Levies: Importers' Losses.
17.
Mr. Ryan
Where a customs duty is abolished there is no provision in law for refunding the duty paid on goods which have been cleared through the Customs prior to the date on which the duty was abolished. In such cases it frequently happens that duty is paid on goods which are cleared shortly before the duty is abolished. Whilst I understand the difficulties involved for the importers of such goods I could not contemplate making ex gratia payments of the type envisaged by the Deputy.