asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the amount of the duty collected in each of the last five years in respect of watches imported into this country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Import of Watches.
Separate particulars of net receipts of duty in respect of watches, as such, are not available. The net receipts of duty on watches and component parts of watches in each of the five years 31/3/1938 to 31/3/1942, inclusive, were:—
|
Year ended |
31/3/1938 |
£9,888 |
|
,, ,, |
31/3/1939 |
10,216 |
|
,, ,, |
31/3/1940 |
11,490 |
|
,, ,, |
31/3/1941 |
7,010 |
|
,, ,, |
31/3/1942 |
26,798 |
asked the Minister for Finance if he will state (a) the number and (b) the value of Swiss watches invoiced to Irish nationals now held by the customs section of the General Post Office; the period for which and the grounds on which they are so held; whether, if these goods are held on his instructions, he will state the grounds on which such instructions were framed, and the nature of the inquiries made by him regarding the effect such instructions will have on employment in the retail jewellery and kindred trades, and on the credit abroad of Irish importers.
I regret that in consonance with the existing restrictions in the public interest on the publication of detailed trade statistics, I cannot furnish the particulars sought in the first part of the Deputy's question. I understand that quantities of watches have been held by the customs authorities for various periods extending up to about five months awaiting release on payment of the appropriate customs duty by the consignees. Watches, as in the case of other customable goods, cannot be released except on payment of duty and in the circumstances no special instructions were necessary.
I may add that I am satisfied that supplies of watches and watch parts in excess of normal requirements have already been imported during the present year.
Is it a fact that the consignor has indicated his willingness to accept a cheque payable on an Irish bank for the amount involved in this case; and, if so, what is the reason for the withholding of the watches in view of the fact that there is a duty of £10,000 involved?
The duty has not been paid.
Does the Minister say that there is a refusal on the part of those concerned to pay the duty?
They have not offered to pay the duty and it has not been paid.
Will the Minister say whether, if the duty is paid, the goods will be released?
There is no difficulty once the duty is paid, except the question of foreign exchange, and it is not always the position that the total amount of foreign exchange required in a particular instance is immediately available.
But if, as I have stated, the consignor is prepared to accept a cheque payable on an Irish bank, what is the difficulty?
There is also the question of getting the foreign exchange. It is not always available.
From the point of view of the Government, all clocks are stopped.
asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that the banks have been forbidden by his Department to buy foreign currency for the purpose of enabling their customers to pay for quantities of Swiss watches held for their customers by the Customs authorities; whether this prohibition was based on the grounds that the demand for foreign currency could not be met by his Department; and, if so, whether he will state why the Department refused later to release watches where the Swiss exporters have intimated their willingness to give delivery without any transfer of foreign currency or of sterling from this country; and, further, whether he will state why Irish importers are prohibited from taking delivery of goods already lying in this country in circumstances which do not involve the buying of foreign currency or the export of Irish currency.
The answers to the first and second parts of the question are in the affirmative. In regard to the third part of the Deputy's question a payment to an account in an Irish bank in the name of a Swiss firm would create a liability to make a payment to Switzerland at a future date and is, therefore, open to objections similar to those which obtain in the case of a current payment in Swiss currency, having regard to the purpose and effect of Emergency Powers (Finance) Orders. On the other hand, these orders would not apply to any cases in which delivery of the watches was secured on the basis solely of payment of the appropriate customs duty.
Is the Minister aware that the frontiers of the country from which these watches come, namely, Switzerland, are now closed and that. these goods are irreplaceable at the moment and will be so for years to come? In these circumstances, is he prepared to release these goods on payment being made in accordance with the arrangements already suggested to this Department?
I cannot answer that question definitely, without going into the matter of getting the necessary foreign exchange for the payment of these goods.
I regard the Minister's answers as unsatisfactory, and I propose to raise the matter, with your permission, Sir, on the Adjournment.
Will this matter be raised in the Swiss Parliament by the Swiss Labour Party?