asked the Minister for External Affairs whether, in the recent Saorstát-German Trade Agreement, which included provisions for the purchase by Germany of horses, there was any agreement as to the dealers (other than Germans) to be employed being citizens of the Saorstát, or whether it was left open to the German Government to engage the services of a dealer or dealers from Northern Ireland.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Saorstát-German Trade Agreement.
In the Saorstát Eireann-German Agreement the stipulation governing the purchase of horses dealt exclusively with the aggregate value of the horses to be purchased, and did not, therefore, affect the status of persons to be employed by the German Government as dealers.
Is it perfectly clear (1) that horses subject to this agreement must be bred in Saorstát Eireann, and (2), is it perfectly clear that facilities would be afforded for individual horse breeders to deal directly with the German Government if such course of action were thought desirable?
I think I said that the stipulation governing the purchase of horses dealt exclusively with the aggregate value of the horses, and did not make any further arrangements with regard to dealers and so on.
Surely a question will arise as to the class of horses that would be eligible for inclusion in the aggregate value? Would it be open to somebody to purchase a horse outside Saorstát Eireann, to bring it into Saorstát Eireann and thence ship it to Germany on our quota? Would there be any provision prohibiting the representatives of the German Government dealing directly with a farmer, or is there any proviso requiring him to deal with somebody approved by the Department of Agriculture?
I think the Deputy had better ask that question of the Minister for Agriculture.
If a question of that kind is addressed to the Minister for Agriculture, will the Department of External Affairs make the necessary information available?
The information is at his disposal already. Any information regarding the agreement, the Minister for Agriculture has it. My information is that the broad terms of the agreement set out that the purchase of horses dealt exclusively with the aggregate value of the horses, without any further arrangements. Obviously the horses were to be bought in Saorstát Eireann.
Surely it is a perfectly legitimate thing to inquire as to what horses will go to make up the aggregate value? Can an individual buy horses outside Saorstát Eireann and, having brought them in here, export them then to Germany on our quota? The President will remember that an exactly similar case arose in connection with a German trade agreement in regard to herrings, where it was definitely ruled that herrings bought outside Great Britain could not be brought into Great Britain and thence exported on the British quota into the German market.
I suggest that the Deputy should address a question in detail to the Minister for Agriculture.