asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state what is the total amount in hundredweights of frozen beef, frozen mutton and frozen pork, and the respective cash values in respect to same imported into the Saorstát for the years 1924 and 1925, and whether he is in a position to state whether or not a large percentage is retailed as Irish reared.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - VALUE OF FROZEN MEAT IMPORTATIONS.
Importers into the Saorstát are not required to use the description "Frozen Beef" or "Frozen Mutton" in their returns. They must, however, state the quantity and value of "Chilled and Frozen Beef" and also of "Chilled and Frozen Mutton" imported by them. Accordingly the imports of "Frozen Beef" and of "Frozen Mutton" cannot be stated. The following table, however, shows the quantities and values of "Chilled and Frozen Beef" and of "Chilled and Frozen Mutton" imported during 1924 and 1925:—
|
Quantity. |
Value |
|||
|
1924 |
1925 |
1924 |
1925 |
|
|
cwt. |
cwt. |
£ |
£ |
|
|
Chilled and Frozen Beef |
10,041 |
10,227 |
27,801 |
27,946 |
|
Chilled and Frozen Mutton |
1,976 |
3,936 |
8,485 |
18,987 |
Importers are not required to state the quantity or value of "Frozen Pork"; it is sufficient for them to state quantities and values of "pork" they import. The total imports of "pork" into the Saorstát in 1924 and 1925 were:—
|
Quantity—cwt. |
Value—£. |
|
|
1924 |
5,083 |
£19,951 |
|
1925 |
7,777 |
32,450 |
A special examination of the import returns shows that included in the above figures of "pork" imported in 1925 there were 4,165 cwts, valued at £16,212, actually described as "Carcases of Frozen Pork." Much of the remainder of the "pork" imported in 1925 may, of course, also have been "Frozen Pork."
I have no information as to the retailing of imported products under the description stated in the question.
Is the Minister aware with regard to the importation of pork, if it has been imported into this country cured and exported as Irish-fed bacon, it has a very damaging effect on the pig industry of the country?
In my answer I stated: "I have no information as to the retailing of imported products under the description stated in the question."
Will the Minister have inquiries made?
I understood that this matter had been raised previously in a question addressed by Deputy Roddy to the Minister for Lands and Agriculture, who stated that a certain consignment had been adverted to and that an examination was proceeding to see exactly how the alleged import had been disposed of. I am not sure whether the inquiry has yet been completed. I could pursue that inquiry further, but it is most difficult to get this suspicion closely examined home in every case.