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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 14 Apr 1948

Vol. 110 No. 6

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Printing of Postage Stamps.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state whether an order was placed with a London firm of printers for the supply to his Department of certain postage stamps, and if so the date on which the order was placed, the series and quantity of stamps ordered, the sum involved in the contract and the proportion of the order already executed; further, whether he will state if this is the first instance in a period of 25 years that a foreign firm was commissioned to print Irish postage stamps and also indicate the grounds for this serious departure from the established practice of having all our stamps printed in Dublin, and if he will now consider the cancellation of that portion of the order not already executed.

An order was placed with a London firm of printers on the 7th November, 1947, for a supply of 3,000,000 3d. and 3,000,000 6d. air mail stamps at a cost of £850 10s. 0d., plus carriage, the Department supplying the paper. The order has been fully executed.

This was the first occasion on which a contract for the printing of Irish postage stamps was placed outside this country. The stamps in question were the first Irish air mail stamps and the decision to have them printed in London was taken, I am informed, so as to ensure that the series would be done by the direct plate process, otherwise known as the "Recess" process, which was considered capable of giving results beyond the capacity of any plant within the country.

Is it a fact that our own Government printing machines were fully occupied printing social service stamps and coupons at the time when the contract was given to an outside firm?

I understand that our own plant was not capable of stamping by the "Recess" process and the Government decided to have them printed where the currency notes are printed.

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