asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether, in the event of his allocating supplies of tea, sugar and butter to hotels about to be operated by the Irish Tourist Board, he will make similar allocations to private owners who have opened or are about to open hotels or catering establishments which were not in business in the year 1941.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Supplies for Hotels.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether it is his intention to allocate to the hotels which the Irish Tourist Board propose to operate quotas for tea, sugar and butter; and, if so, if he will indicate the basis upon which such quotas will be fixed.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 3 together. It is intended to fix allocations of tea, sugar and butter for newly-established hotels irrespective of ownership, provided these hotels comply with the requirements of the Irish Tourist Board and are registered as such. The allocations will be fixed by reference to the allocations enjoyed by comparable establishments.
The supply position would not at present permit of the grant of allocations of these goods to newly-established catering establishments other than residential hotels.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, will the Minister say how he justifies the differentiation between one class and another?
Because the second class is so very much more numerous, we would not have enough supplies.
Would the Minister say is there likely to be an easement of the supply position in respect of newly-established catering establishments?
I think it is unlikely that rations of tea, sugar and butter can be made available to catering establishments other than residential hotels for some time to come.
The Minister surely appreciates that there are private owners who started in business during the emergency and have suffered severe hardship for some years past because they were unable to secure supplies. Now there is to be a further injustice done to them because the Minister is going to differentiate between them in favour of a particular class.