asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state if any representations have been made either to the Government or to traders by the Persian (Iran) authorities for the purpose of marketing oil products in the State and, if not, if it is proposed to make any proposals to the Persian authorities for the purchase of oil or petroleum products which will likely be obtainable at much more favourable terms than those now prevailing for similar purchases elsewhere.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Persian Oil.
No representations have been made to the Government. I have no information as to whether any representations have been made to traders. The importation of petroleum products is a matter for private enterprise in which the Government does not, at present, propose to intervene.
In view of the fact that the sympathy of the majority of the people of this country is with the Persians in their fight to establish independence of British interests, could we not show our practical appreciation of that by purchasing the oil we require from the Persian people and so helping them?
I would prefer that the Deputy would find some way of showing the sympathy he feels other than that of setting up the Government as a trader in petroleum products. We have enough on hands without taking that on.