Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 26 Feb 1980

Vol. 318 No. 3

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Spirits Imports.

6.

Mr. Enright

asked the Taoiseach the exact volume and the cost of the imports in the following items and the country of origin of each: (a) vodka, (b) whiskey, (c) gin and (d) brandy, for each of the years 1969, 1975 and 1979.

Mr. Moore

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving the information requested by the Deputy.

Following is the statement:

Imports of Vodka, Whiskey, Gin and Brandy.

	1969	1975	1979
Description and Country of Origin	Litres of pure alc.	£000	Litres of pure alc.	£000	Litres of pure alc.	£000
Vodka
Great Britain			252,687	211	265,517	330
Northern Ireland			4,602	4	14,911	22
France			444	3	—	—
USSR	not	not	226	1	7,852	24
USA	available	available	—	—	26,399	36
Other Countries			824	2	104	1
Total			258,783	221	314,783	413
Whiskey
Great Britain	499,161	583	1,367,933	2,020	1,455,801	4,202
Northern Ireland	76,820	82	391,375	849	460,441	1,445
USA	4,243	9	4,751	12	8,268	41
Canada	14,277	17	16,057	28	22,178	64
France	—	—	375	3	5,838	21
Other Countries	44,376	27	39	1	390	2
Total	638,877	718	1,780,530	2,913	1,952,916	5,775
Gin
Great Britain	33,696	19	150,314	173	160,822	309
Northern Ireland	—	—	—	—	4,365	11
Other Countries	1,019	1	527	1	224	0
Total	34,715	20	150,841	174	165,411	320
Brandy (2)
France	483,122	1,214	439,436	2,714	757,898	6,809
Germany F.R.	250	1	3,084	12	9,989	39
Other Countries	1,359	1	999	2	2,450	8
Total	484,731	1,216	443,519	2,728	770,337	6,856

Notes:

(1) Reimports are included under "Other Countries" for 1969. For 1975 and 1979 they are assigned to the countries from which they were reimported.

(2) Brandy is not separately distinguished in the import statistics and data above relate to "spirits distilled from wine or grape marc".