asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is giving consideration to the British Merchandise Marks Bill, which if passed into law will place the Irish egg exporters under grievous disadvantages by the stamping order contained in the Bill; and if he is aware that eggs exported from Northern Ireland are exempt; and whether it is his intention to make representation to the British Government to have the Free State exempted from the stamping order.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. [ ORAL ANSWERS. ] - STAMPING OF EGGS EXPORTED TO BRITAIN.
DOMHNALL O MOCHAIN
It is proposed in the Bill that eggs imported into Great Britain, other than eggs produced in Northern Ireland and brought to Great Britain from a port in Northern Ireland, be indelibly marked with a clear indication of the country in which the eggs were produced or with the word "imported." In the opinion of the Department, a requirement that packages of Irish agricultural produce when placed on the markets bear marks so as to indicate origin should ultimately prove beneficial to the Irish agricultural industry. The Department, however, consider that it would be of advantage, especially to the Irish butter and egg industries, that no provision as to marking consignments to indicate the country of origin should apply to produce sent from Saorstát Eireann to Great Britain until any regulations deemed desirable governing export are made.
The Department have communicated on the subject with the High Commissioner for Saorstát Eireann.