asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will state in respect of onions (a) the present import price, (b) the present selling price, (c) the number of persons in receipt of import licences, (d) how these are apportioned and (e) if he is satisfied that the conditions of competition are adequate to protect the interests of the consumer.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Onion Imports.
51.
I have no details of import prices of onions. Sale prices in the Dublin Market on 23rd April ranged from 130p to 250p per 56 lb bag for Dutch and from 225p to 250p per 50 lb bag for Canadian and Chilean. The number of import licence holders is 70. Import licences are issued to established importers of onions and to purchasers of substantial quantities of Irish onions from growers. The quantities covered by individual import licences are related to the licence holders' onion imports in 1969 and 1970 and to their purchases of home-grown onions of the 1969 and 1970 crop. The total quantity licensed to be imported is that estimated to be required to supply demand until the 1971 Irish home crop becomes available. The fact that there are 70 holders of import licences provides adequate market competition.