asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware of the present shortage of matches and if he will state his reasons for refusing facilities to wholesalers in Éire to import safety matches from Italy, particularly in view of the fact that they were prepared to pay 7/4 per gross packages customs import duty on same.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shortage of Matches.
Though there is a shortage of matches, it is not so acute as to justify the allocation of foreign currency for the import of matches from abroad. It was for this reason that the application to which the Deputy referred was refused.
My information is that we are 40 per cent. below present requirements.
Oh, no, we are not; we are much nearer to the normal supply than that.
The Minister should try to buy a few boxes and he will know all about it.
I gave the figure last week.
The Minister indicated a figure of 85 per cent. compared with pre-war requirements. I understand from the information at my disposal that the present supply is far from meeting our requirements.