Jim Higgins
Question:4 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach the quantity of timber imported to, and exported from, this country in 1992; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Timber Imports and Exports.
In the period January to September 1992, which is the latest period for which detailed data is available, imports of timber were 181,000 tonnes and exports of timber were 464,000 tonnes.
As exports of timber exceed the imports by 464,000 tonnes to 181,000 tonnes will the Minister of State bring those statistics to the attention of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry? Huge quantities of timber are exported through the port of Galway every week because we do not have a woodpulp industry there.
I will certainly do that.
The questions we are about to embark upon are Priority Questions for which 15 minutes only is provided in Standing Orders. Let us try to dispose of the five questions in a fair and equitable manner.