asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state (a) the quantity in tons of imported superphosphate transferred from the different stores throughout the country to the fertilising factories for reconditioning during 1952 and 1953; (b) the amount paid per ton by the fertilising factories for the superphosphate so dealt with; (c) the amount paid for transport for removing it from the stores to the fertilising factories; (d) the amount paid for the storage of the imported superphosphate for each of the years 1951, 1952 and 1953; (e) the amount paid in interest on the money advanced for the purchase of imported superphosphate during each of those years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Imported Superphosphate.
I am not in a position to give the Deputy the information requested at (a), (b) and (c), as particulars are not available as to the quantity of superphosphate which needed reconditioning by the purchasers before being used in compounds or resold for straight use.
The particulars requested at (d) and (e) are:—
|
1951 |
1952 |
1953 |
|
|
Storage |
£10,414 |
£38,310 |
£34,133 |
|
Bank Charge |
£8,880 |
£30,134 |
Nil |
What is the difficulty in regard to not having information on the items referred to by the Parliamentary Secretary? The first question I asked was: (a) the quantity in tons of imported superphosphate transferred from the different stores throughout the country to the fertilising factories for reconditioning. What is the difficulty in finding that information? Under (b) I asked for the amount paid per ton by the fertilising factories for the superphosphate so dealt with, and (c) the amount paid for transport for removing it from the stores to the fertilising factories. It had been in the stores for three years, and we paid £90,000 for its storage during those three years.
The Deputy is now making a statement and not asking a question.
I am asking why we cannot get the information in respect of the first three items in my question.
The only information that I have is that the surplus stocks of superphosphate held by Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann on behalf of the Department were sold as they stood to fertiliser manufacturers and merchants, and it would not be possible to furnish an estimate of what proportion of the stocks needed reconditioning before being used in compounds or resold for "straight" use. That is the only information I can give the Deputy on the matter.
I still insist that there should be no difficulty in ascertaining the number of tons that had to be transferred from the stores. The stuff had been there for three years before it went to the fertilising factories. Surely, there should be no difficulty in finding out what was paid for the stuff that went to the factories to be reconditioned. It was left there to rot, and yet we talk about pig production.
Who bought it?
That is not the question.
Discuss it with James Dillon. It was a legacy that he left to us.
I do not care who bought it. Whoever bought it ought to be ashamed of their existence.
Does the Minister deny that he made a black market profit out of it since 1951?
A lot of Cork workers were put out of their jobs because it was bought.