asked the Taoiseach the amount of sugar imported during each month in 1974 and so far in 1975; the net price per ton of these imports; and the proportion of imports brought in by the Irish Sugar Company.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sugar Imports.
6.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate in the Official Report, a statement showing, for each month from January, 1974 to March, 1975, the quantity and average price per ton of imported sugar.
External trade statistics are not compiled in respect of individual companies and consequently the proportion of such imports brought in by the Irish Sugar Company is not available.
Following is the statement:
Imports of sugar.
|
Month |
Raw sugar, beet and cane |
Refined sugar |
||
|
Quantity |
Average Price per ton |
Quantity |
Average Price per ton |
|
|
Metric Tons |
£ |
Metric Tons |
£ |
|
|
1974 January |
87 |
108.2 |
22 |
107.8 |
|
February |
37 |
135.2 |
45 |
136.5 |
|
March |
64 |
126.0 |
75 |
131.0 |
|
April |
69 |
116.5 |
59 |
129.8 |
|
May |
317 |
160.0 |
39 |
138.5 |
|
June |
758 |
151.5 |
24 |
124.5 |
|
July |
1,017 |
182.7 |
35 |
141.8 |
|
August |
3,930 |
205.9 |
20 |
114.5 |
|
September |
5,317 |
186.4 |
52 |
140.0 |
|
October |
4,662 |
207.1 |
1,846 |
162.9 |
|
November |
4,090 |
199.2 |
2,334 |
145.8 |
|
December |
4,607 |
188.9 |
6,913 |
140.1 |
|
1975 January |
2,594 |
159.8 |
7,691 |
219.9 |
|
February |
36 |
293.7 |
14,077 |
418.1 |
|
March |
27 |
353.7 |
589 |
275.0 |
Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree that world prices at the moment appear to be below the level of the Irish domestic price and that accordingly the price of sugar in this country should be reduced considerably at once?
No, I cannot answer the Deputy.
The Deputy is getting into the area of policy, which is a matter for another Minister.
I cannot even answer the first part of the Deputy's question. All I have got in the answer is related to the prices per ton and it is quite a long list.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree that it is very unsatisfactory that the Irish price should now be above the price at which sugar is available elsewhere?
The Deputy is crossexamining me on something for which I would have had figures if he had asked for them.