asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the total amount of revenue collected on artificial manures imported or manufactured in the last financial year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Revenue from Artificial Manures.
The receipts of customs duty during the financial year ended 31st March, 1953, in respect of imports of artificial manures amounted to £4,019.
Artificial manures manufactured in the State are not liable to duty.
Is it not so that a duty of 20 per cent. is levied on imports of superphosphate, except in the case of those who get licences to import it duty free and that they are required to give an undertaking that they will not sell it in competition with the Irish manure ring?
I do not know whether the Deputy wants to close down the artificial manure factories in this country or not, but the fact is that, although there is a duty of 20 per cent. we imported in the year referred to in the question £2,606,000 worth of fertilisers and the total amount collected was £4,000.
Why does the Minister retain the duty of 20 per cent. on super, if it is not for the purpose of keeping up the price of super?
The Deputy knows very well that there are rings in other places than Ireland. We have some control over Irish rings, but we have none over foreign rings. If we crush our own fertiliser manufacture, the Deputy would leave us subject altogether to the foreign rings.
That is about as clear as mud.
Do not forget to develop that point in Cork when you are there.
We will develop a couple of your promises that we have made photographs of, too.