asked the Minister for Finance if he will state for each of the years 1953, 1954, 1955, and 1956 the value of the goods imported which were at any time in 1956 subject to special import levy.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Imports Subject to Special Levy.
asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the value of the goods imported in each month of 1956 and 1957 which were (1) subject to special import levy (a) imposed in March, 1956, and increased in July, 1956, (b) imposed in March, 1956, and not altered in July, 1956, (c) imposed in July, 1956, on articles before then free from levy, and (2) released from special import levy at any time since 20th March, 1957.
I propose, with the permission of the Cheann Comhairle, to deal with Questions 14 and 15 together.
Many of the classes of goods subject to special import levies and not otherwise liable to customs duty were not separately recorded in the import statistics before the levies were imposed and in cases where the levy has been repealed have ceased to be recorded since the date of the repeal. In the circumstances it would not be possible to supply the desired information in respect of all the goods covered by the levies.
As regards the information which can be made available, I have to point out that the statistics are not compiled in such a manner as to enable a reply to be furnished immediately. It is estimated that the extraction and collation of the material will take at least a fortnight. This information will be made available if the Deputy wishes to repeat his questions when the Dáil meets after Christmas.