asked the Minister for Finance if he will state what was the amount of revenue sacrificed by the Irish Free State for the nine months ending the 31st December of the current year by reason of the adoption of the British Preferential Tariff, and whether Empire grown tobacco pays only five-sixths of the duty charged upon foreign tobacco; and, further, whether the Government proposes taking steps to encourage the tobacco growing industry in this country.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - DUTIES ON TOBACCO.—ENCOURAGING IRISH GROWERS.
As regards the first part of the question, I am having a return prepared for the Deputy showing, as far as figures are available, the difference between the actual revenue receipts in respect of tobacco imported at preferential rates and the potential Revenue receipts calculated on the assumption that the preferential rates had been abolished and the full duty charged, but that other conditions had remained the same.
The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.
As regards the third part of the question, the position is that the Government have heretofore been granting a substantial subsidy towards the tobacco growing industry. If the Deputy has in mind a tariff protection for that industry, I am not in a position to say more than that the question of homegrown tobacco will be duly considered in relation to the fiscal problem generally.