asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether it is possible to utilise nettles for making paper, etc., in this country, as is being done in other countries; and, if so, whether the collection of nettles should be undertaken.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Nettles for Paper-making.
In reply to the first portion of the Deputy's question, my information is that it is possible to utilise nettles for making paper in this country. I understand that it would be practically impossible to collect nettles in sufficient quantities to make their use for paper manufacture economical and that the fibre yield from nettles is considerably lower than that from other materials available in this country for paper manufacture, such as straw.
How does it come that it pays both in England and Germany—both countries at war and severely pressed for labour—to collect nettles and that it is uneconomic for us to do likewise? Are we to continue feeding the donkeys on them as of yore?
Paper can be made out of any fibrous matter but, of all fibrous matter available to us, nettles are, probably, the most unsuitable.