I move:
That the Dáil agree with the Committee in Resolution No. 4.
This is the Resolution which makes effective the reduction in the customs and excise duty on sugar, which I announced in the Budget.
Financial Resolutions—Report Stage. - Resolution No. 4—Customs and Excise.
The Minister will recall that last year, for the first time, imports of foreign sugar were restricted to Comhlucht Siuicre na hEireann, and an arrangement was made whereunder that company paid, by way of licence to the Government, a fee which was calculated at such a figure as to equate the cost price of imported sugar with the price of sugar produced in the factories of Comhlucht Siuicre na hEireann. Could the Minister tell us to-day what revenue the Exchequer derived from that licence fee, because the acting Minister for Industry and Commerce, when he mentioned this proposal, forecast that it would come to a very substantial sum. It is right that the House should know what is the total amount of revenue being derived from sugar, both produced here and imported, before we resolve in the matter of the rate of duty to be levied in this financial year. Does he propose to give us that information?
I submit, Sir, that it is information that ought to be asked for by way of Parliamentary question.
The fact is that the Minister does not know.
The fact is that I object to the way in which the Deputy abuses the procedure of the House in these matters.
And the Minister forgot to find out before he came in.
It has nothing to do with this, strange as it may appear.
However, have it here when you come here the next day.
Why was not the Deputy here yesterday when the matter was discussed?
There is nothing in this Resolution which deals with that matter.
Have the information with you when you next come here, and that will do.
The Deputy can get the information in the usual way.
Question put and agreed to.