asked the Taoiseach the quantity and type of jam imported from 1st January, 1971, to the latest available date showing prices and rate of duty and indicating each country of origin separately.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Jam Imports.
9.
With your permission, Sir, I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statement showing details of the quantities and average prices of jams, marmalades and fruit jellies imported from each country in the period January to September, 1971. Separate figures for jam are not available. The rates of duty on jam are set out under Tariff Heading 20.05 and under special charging provisions Nos. 4 and 6 in the customs and excise tariff.
Following is the statement:
Imports of jams, marmalades and fruit jellies in the period January—September 1971.
|
County of Origin |
Quantity |
Average Price per cwt. |
|
Cwt. |
£ |
|
|
Great Britain |
4,858 |
8.60 |
|
Belgium |
1 |
6.00 |
|
France |
1 |
37.00 |
|
*Netherlands |
0 |
... |
|
Switzerland |
8 |
18.00 |
|
Poland |
13 |
7.31 |
|
*Republic of South Africa |
0 |
... |
|
United States of America |
1 |
29.00 |
|
Canada |
2 |
22.00 |
|
Australia |
22 |
12.68 |
|
Total |
4,906 |
8.65 |
...= not available
* Negligible quantities were imported from Netherlands and Republic of South Africa.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that to give a complicated reply like that to a simple question is rather ridiculous? Would it not have been much handier for him to give the facts asked for without trying to make it complicated? After all, he must have looked up those references to find out where they were. He could have given them to me in two figures.
I agree that the answer to the question is complicated but the question asked demanded a complicated answer to give the full facts which I am sure the Deputy wanted. There is no use in giving a simple answer and not giving the facts.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that the soft fruit industry in this country is suffering seriously because the Government are allowing in a tremendous amount of jam from abroad and are not collecting tariffs as they claim they are on that jam?
I cannot really reply to that to the extent that I do not appear to have the information available to me.
The Parliamentary Secretary should have. He had six days to get the reply.
I have the answer to the Deputy's specific question.
On a point of order, I want to ask why a question put down, after consultation with the Taoiseach, regarding incursion by Hawker Hunter fighter bombers into Irish air traffic corridors has been disallowed?
Will the Deputy have some regard for procedure?
I will have no regard for it.
This is most disorderly. Will the Deputy please resume his seat? We are on Question Time.
I should like to know why——
If the Deputy does not resume his seat I shall have to order him from the House. The Deputy is being disorderly.
I want to know why the Federation of Aeronautical Associations——
This has nothing to do with Question No. 10.
Does the Deputy know anything about Standing Orders? Will the Deputy please resume his seat or I will ask him to leave the House.
I had prior consultation with the Taoiseach before I phrased the question and I should like to know why it was disallowed. I think it is a disgrace. It is an absolute disgrace.
At the moment the Deputy is a bit of a disgrace too.
(Interruptions.)
Deputies should have some regard for Parliament.
I have regard for Parliament but I do not like promises being made and questions being accepted and then coming back and being refused.