asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the total quantity and value of exports of Irish whiskey to America during 1966; and what proposals the Government have to increase exports of Irish whiskey.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Whiskey Exports.
30.
Exports of Irish whiskey to the United States of America in 1966 totalled 66,084 proof gallons, value £152,200. The development of exports of whiskey is a matter primarily for the distillers. Córas Tráchtála continue to give the distillers every possible assistance in the promotion of their exports.
Is the Minister aware that over £1 million worth of whisky is exported from Scotland to America at the present time and that that trade has been built up since the last War, that here in Ireland we have the raw material, the people available and the know-how and does he not agree that it is wrong to leave this primarily to the distillers? Does he not agree that in our embassies abroad, we should have more aggressive salesmen instead of party-going diplomats to try to push the sale of our exports and that it is a disgrace that we are not even exporting £1 million worth of Irish whiskey to America at present time?
Give them more whiskey and make them more loquacious.
Of course, I agree that we would all like to see very much more substantial exports of Irish whiskey but I do not agree that our embassies are not doing what they can to push the sales of Irish whiskey. I think it has been said here in the House by Deputies from all sides that they are aware of efforts made in this regard. The fact still remains that for any effective campaign to increase exports of Irish whiskey, we must depend on the distillers themselves whose primary business it is to do so. We give them every assistance we can and in recent years there have been developments between distillers which give good grounds for hope that exports will increase considerably.
The Minister will admit that our marketing system is antediluvian and that there was a marketing board set up to sell butter abroad, and it was left to the farmers—
I suggest the Deputy stick to whiskey.
Unfortunately, Sir, I never tasted it yet.
It is a pity the Deputy did not.
I want to see it all exported. Would the Minister not think that even if we had the Fugitive trying to sell whiskey in America, instead of spending all his time at the United Nations telling the Japs and Russians what to do——
Question No. 31.