asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he has agreed to the charging by Irish shipping operators' associations of a fee of (a) 50p for posting notification of arrival of goods and (b) £1.50 for servicing an entry which involves attaching the entry to a delivery sheet.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shipping Operators' Charge.
9.
The Irish Shipping Operators' Association recently submitted a comprehensive proposal on behalf of their members for increases in charges in connection with customs clearance. Having consulted the National Prices Commission I raised no objection to the association's proposals for increased charges, which included the introduction of a fee of 50p for transfer of documents and a fee of £1.50 for servicing entries of importers or agents.
Bearing in mind the Minister's earlier statement that he must be concerned with the consumer, would he not accept that this is an over-generous allowance on his part which must inevitably reflect on the consumer? Fifty pence for posting a letter and £1.50 for joining a letter to an advice note seems to me to be quite excessive.
My information is that in the considered opinion of the National Prices Commission these were reasonable charges which were warranted. They have no more pleasure in seeing increased charges than I have. The increased charges were warranted in the circumstances.
Would the Minister accept that the traders who must keep note of all these charges and at the same time calculate Value Added Tax and get no allowance are being poorly done by——
The Deputy is introducing new matter into the question.
I asked a question last week which seems to tie in with Question No. 9.
The Deputy must ask a question.
The Minister's answer to this question has thrown a different light on the subject.
I am anxious to help the Deputy if he has a specific supplementary question to ask.
I want to tell the House——
The Deputy may not tell the House anything at Question Time. He is not in order.
I will put down another question.