asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state whether any potatoes were imported into the Republic in 1950, and, if so, what was the date of importation, in what country were they secured, and what was the price paid for them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Imports of Potatoes.
The answers to the Deputy's question are:— (a) 49 tons 15 cwts.; (b) May, 1950; (c) Canary Islands and Malta; (d) I am not in a position to state what the importers concerned paid for the potatoes.
Will the Minister say why it was that in the White Paper which he issued to us during the discussion on his Estimate no information was given in regard to that matter?
For the excellent reason that the material contained in the White Paper supplied to the Deputy, if he read it, was compiled up to the end of the financial year preparatory to printing, and that the bulk of the statistics provided related to that period. Thus the importation of new potatoes from the Canary Islands in May was not a topic which could be properly included in it.
The White Paper referred to was issued to us as a factual statement of the position, and I am asking the Minister now why it was that White Paper did not contain the information which we have extracted as a result of this parliamentary question.
If the Deputy had been listening to my supplementary reply he would know.