asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the retail price per ton which obtained for 40 per cent. phosphatic manures on the 12th instant, and the amount by which such price should have been reduced through the operation of the Government's Order of the 13th instant suspending the customs duty on superphosphates.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Phosphatic Manures.
I have no information as to the retail price of 40 per cent. phosphatic manures. The maximum ex-factory price on the 12th November was £12 5s. per ton.
The effect of the removal of the customs duty on phosphatic manures on the 13th November was to create a free market in these manures and to leave the retail price subject to the normal competition between home-produced supplies and imported supplies bought at world prices.
Would the Minister have any information as to what would be the effect on the import price, the wholesale price, the equivalent price to the price ex-factory, of the suspension of the Order?
I would suggest the Deputy address a question in those terms to the Minister for Agriculture.
Surely the Minister deals with that matter?
No, the administration of whatever subsidy will be necessary to ensure that all the products of the Irish fertiliser factories are used will be in the hands of the Minister for Agriculture.