The Special Committee appointed to consider whether it is desirable to grant any further remission of excise duty to growers of tobacco in the Saorstát, having regard among other things to the relative importance of the industry, the amount and nature of employment given by it, any probable development in the demand for tobacco grown and manufactured in the Saorstát, and the effect upon the revenue of any alteration of the existing duty, have agreed to the following interim report:—
The Special Committee have made progress in the consideration of the matters referred to them, but as it will not be within their power to report by the 23rd March as ordered they request the Dáil to extend the time for reporting back to Friday, 26th March.
I might be permitted to say in explanation that the Committee has been faced with certain unforeseen difficulties due to the complicated nature of the matters involved and the limitation of the terms of reference, and also to the difficulties of obtaining accurate information on the matter. The Committee was appointed rather late in the financial year. I think I can promise that its conclusions will be available by Friday next, and I hope the delay will not cause inconvenience to the Minister for Finance.