asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the quantity of (a) scrap iron, (b) scrap brass, (c) other scrap metal, which has been exported under licence during each month in the year 1940 and in January and February, 1941.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Export of Scrap Metal.
I would refer the Deputy to replies given to Deputies Mulcahy and Norton on the 6th February, 1941, and 11th March, 1941, respectively, in answer to a similar question relating to other commodities. The Government does not think it advisable to depart from the policy therein indicated.
If the Minister is referring to any information given to this House, is he aware that in the week beginning Tuesday, 11th March, 1941, we were told that scrap iron was not being exported, while, on Saturday morning, 15th March, I went down to the quays and saw two men busily shovelling scrap iron into a vessel lying at the South Quays?
It is the same with potatoes.
The export of scrap iron was prohibited under an Act passed by the Oireachtas in 1938. Licences have not been given for the export of scrap cast iron for many months— almost since the beginning of the war—but licences have been given for a limited export of scrap steel.
Why?
Because we cannot use it here.
If I see two men at the quays busily shovelling scrap into a vessel, am I to take it that it is steel scrap and not iron scrap?
Yes.
The Deputy should make himself familiar with the correct terminology.
Everybody in the South of Ireland knows that Haulbowline is being used for the export of scrap iron and they laugh when the Minister says that no scrap is being exported.
The export of scrap cast iron without a permit is illegal. The Deputy may know of illegalities which have been committed. Those who exported scrap iron, if they did export it, committed an illegality and I am sure that the resources of the Revenue authorities are sufficient to prevent such illegalities being committed.
As to cast iron, I know nothing about it, but, to the knowledge of everybody at Haulbowline, scrap iron is being shovelled into ships and shipped across to England. That is being done there because the fellow shipping it does not want to pay the Dublin port dues.
Comment by Deputies on Ministers' replies to questions is not in order. Questions are sometimes put to obtain material for subsequent debate. That debate should not take place immediately following the Minister's reply.
May I ask the Chair for a direction? If a Minister tells you across the floor of the House what you know is untrue, what are you to do— sit down and say nothing?
If a Deputy says something which a Minister knows to be untrue, what is the Minister to do?
Are we to take it from the Minister's reply——
Question No. 22.
We are not being allowed to put any supplementaries.
May I draw the attention of Deputies to the fact that the House has spent three-quarters of an hour on 21 questions? Normally, some 34 questions are dealt with in half an hour.
We are not getting answers.
It is time well spent.
Deputies should not interrupt the Chair. Standing Order 32 lays it down that any questions not reached at 3.30 are either to be put on the following day's Order Paper or answers are to be printed in the Official Report.
Is there anything in the Standing Orders to compel a Minister to give a straight answer?
We are not getting replies to questions.