asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that an Eire citizen who recently received a gift from South Africa of half a Ib. of tea, three ounces of raisins and two ounces of chocolate, was charged minimum duty on raisins, 2/6, 2d. package tax on three different articles 6d., and customs clearance 6d., being a total of 3/6, as against about 2/6 paid for the goods in South Africa, and 2/- postage for the goods from South Africa; and if he will consider remitting the duty on small gifts such as these for the duration of the war.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Remission of Duty on Small Gifts from Abroad.
Mr. Dockrell
From the information furnished it is not possible to trace the parcel in question.
As regards the second part of the question, special provision is already made for gifts, whereby only the minimum duty of 2/6 (or 1/- (as provided in the 1938 Trade Agreement) in the case of United Kingdom or Canadian goods) or the actual duty, if such is in excess of the minimum duty, is chargeable irrespective of the number of classes of dutiable goods which the parcel may contain. Also, no customs duty is at present chargeable on chocolate and the minimum duty charge has been suspended in so far as it applies to tea. I will consider making statutory provision for the suspension of the minimum duty charge in the case of gift parcels of food, but I am not prepared to make provision for the admission of gift parcels generally without payment of the actual duty involved.