asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that under the present operation of the butter tariff a considerable number of farmers in Co. Monaghan who are shareholders in, and suppliers to, Fane Valley Cooperative Creamery, which is situated about 30 yards across the Border, are unable to procure a supply of butter for their own household use without paying 4d. per lb. of duty thereon; whether it was intended that where normally and of necessity milk produced by farmers in the Free State is sent across the Border to be manufactured into butter, the produce of that milk required for the personal use of the supplier should be taxed; and whether he will see that some reasonable concession is made in such cases.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Butter Tariff in Monaghan.
I am aware that duty is chargeable on butter imported in the circumstances set out in the Deputy's question. There was no opposition from the parties to whom the Deputy's question refers, nor from any other interested, to the application for the imposition of a tariff on butter. I understand, nevertheless, the Tariff Commission very carefully considered this particular difficulty, but came to the conclusion that the circumstances did not justify them in making any recommendation. I may add that, apart from the merits of the case, there would be some difficulty in administering any provision for the exemption from duty of butter imported in the circumstances the Deputy has in mind. I understand that only a very small percentage of the milk suppliers are affected by the duty, and that there should be little difficulty in making an arrangement with a neighbouring Saorstát creamery which would enable them to obtain their butter supplies at a price in which the full burden of the import duty would not be reflected.
Is the Minister aware that in practice there is a contra account with the milk supplier? He does not pay cash. It would be quite easy to adjust any charge on butter required for his own use.
There are lots of difficulties about the matter—approved and unapproved roads and hours— which would not be so easy to overcome.