I move:—
That Seanad Eireann hereby approves of the Sugar (Prohibition of Import) Order, 1942.
The Sugar (Control of Import) Act, 1936, was passed on 3rd April, 1936. The Act empowers the Government by Order to prohibit the importation of sugar, save under licence issued by the Minister for Industry and Commerce, and provides further that licences may not be issued except to Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann, Teoranta. The first Prohibition Order made under the Act prohibited the importation of sugar during the period 1st May, 1936, to 30th April, 1937. Since that date six other Orders have been issued under the Act; the period covered by each Order extending from the 1st May of one year to 30th April of the year following. The Order which the Oireachtas is now asked to confirm was made on the 28th April, 1942, and applies to the period 1st May, 1942, to 30th April, 1943. Its terms differ in one respect from the terms of the earlier Orders. The earlier Orders provided for the importation of any quantity of sugar however small. In the latest Order there is a clause to provide that consignments of sugar imported by parcel post, which are shown to be intended for the personal use of the persons to whom they are consigned, may be admitted without licence. It is provided in Section 3 of the Act that every Prohibition Order made shall cease to have effect at the expiration of six months from the date of its making, unless the Order is approved by a resolution of Dáil Eireann. The approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas for the Order made on the 28th April last must, therefore, be obtained not later than the 27th October, 1942.
