I move:—
That Seanad Eireann hereby approves of the Sugar (Prohibition of Import) Order, 1955.
Sugar (Prohibition of Import) Order, 1955—Motion of Approval.
This is the customary confirmation of a Sugar (Prohibition of Import) Order and it relates to the Order to be made this year. The Sugar (Control of Imports) Act, 1936, empowers the Government to prohibit by Order the importation of sugar, except under licence. Import licences may be granted to the Irish Sugar Company only and the Order requires the approval of the Oireachtas and is the customary Order dealing with the matter.
The only change on which I should like to comment, so far as this year's Order is concerned, is in respect of the currency of this Order. Previous Orders prohibiting the import of sugar except under licence operated for a period of 12 months in each case. On this occasion, the period of the prohibition of imports has been altered to 20 months. The purpose of the alteration is to provide that, in the case of any further annual Orders which may require to be made, the period of six months, within which the Order must be confirmed, shall be altered from May to October, as at present, during which both Houses are for a part of the time in recess, to the period January to June which will operate in future, during which time both Houses are usually in session. It is felt that this alteration would suit the convenience of both Houses much better than the present arrangement. In future, Orders will be in respect of 12-monthly periods operating from January to December.
Could the Minister say what proportion of our requirements of sugar have to be imported at present? The Minister may not have the information at his disposal now.
I can give the Senator some information on the matter.
That is the question I was about to ask.
For the year 1954, our imports of sugar were 31,461 tons and home production was 88,879 tons. It is to be remembered of course that the 1954-55 crop was an unusually difficult one to sow and harvest because of the weather we experienced last year.
Motion put and agreed to.