To ask the Minister for Home Affairs if he will take steps to investigate the question of freights throughout Ireland; if he is aware that, as a result of preferential treatment by railway companies, foodstuffs exported from Ireland can be purchased cheaper in any part of Great Britain than in Dublin; and if he will take steps to provide cheap rates for foodstuffs to or from Dublin to any part of Ireland.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. - FREIGHT CHARGES.
AILFRID O BROIN
MINISTER for INDUSTRY and COMMERCE (Mr. J. McGrath)
Consideration will necessarily be given to the effect of freight charges on the cost of foodstuffs by the forthcoming Commission on the Prices of Essential Commodities and probably by the Agricultural Commission. The question of railway rates will also arise on the reports of the Railway Commission. Until the conclusions of these Commissions have been considered I would not feel justified in setting up another special investigation. With regard to the last part of the question, I have no power under existing legislation to reduce railway rates.