asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will furnish the following particulars in each case where he has requested the Revenue Commissioners to issue licences for the importation of dutiable articles free of duty under the various statutes enabling him thereto:—(1) the name of the licensee; (2) the date of the Minister's request; and (3) the description of the article or articles to be admitted free of duty, it being understood that the word "description" appearing above shall not be deemed to include the meaning "quantity" where it appears that the publication of quantities would react unfairly on the licensee.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Issue of Import Licences.
The preparation of the information asked for by the Deputy would require an examination of all requests made by my Department to the Revenue Commissioners for the issue of licences for the importation of dutiable articles free of duty and would involve an expenditure of time and labour which would not be justified by the results.
Is the Minister aware that this is a question that he himself invited me to put down with the view to eliciting this information? Am I to understand now that, having conceded that he was quite prepared for the fullest publicity in regard to all these licensing transactions, he now runs away from the undertaking which he gave and of which he made so much capital on the Vote for his Department?
The answer to all parts of the Deputy's supplementary question is in the negative.
Is the Minister prepared to perpetuate the veil of secrecy which has covered these transactions in connection with the issuing of licences and the discrimination between one citizen and another which is at present going on.
The Deputy's allegations are as unfounded as all the other allegations that come from his side. If the Deputy wants a special inquiry into his allegations, let him state them and we shall consider the matter.
The allegation is that discrimination is being made between citizens in regard to the granting of licences to import goods free of import duty. The Minister challenged me to put down a question and ask him for a full record of all licensing transactions, the answer to which he said, would clear him of any suggestion of incompetence or impartiality. I have now put down a question and he runs away from his undertaking. I now ask the Minister, arising out of his reply, if there is any means whereby Deputies can ascertain who got these licences and to what extent discrimination has been used in the granting of them.
If the Deputy has any evidence to support his allegation it is for him to put it forward. Otherwise, he falls into the same contemptible category as his colleagues.
I allege that grave injustice is being done by this discrimination.