asked the Taoiseach if he will state the total value and quantity of blended whiskey exported in each of the years from 1954 to date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Whiskey Exports.
2.
Statistics of domestic exports are brought to account according to the headings of the Official Export List which distinguishes only "Whiskey, home made." I propose, therefore, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate in the Official Report a statement showing the total quantity and value of domestic exports of home made whiskey in each of the years 1954 to 1958 inclusive.
Following is the statement:—
DOMESTIC exports of whiskey in each year 1954-58.
|
Description and year |
Quantity |
Value |
|
Whiskey, home-made: |
Proof Gall. |
£ |
|
1954 |
127,166 |
224,486 |
|
1955 |
144,130 |
268,405 |
|
1956 |
150,456 |
300,047 |
|
1957 |
193,675 |
382,657 |
|
1958 |
156,819 |
335,169 |
In view of the fact that this House has voted moneys for a publicity campaign to sell blended whiskey abroad, and also in view of the fact that a State body, Córas Tráchtála Teoranta, brought out a special edition last December giving an account of the cost of the current sales campaign in the United States for blended whiskey and pot still whiskey, can the Par. Sec. to the Taoiseach tell me now why he refuses to give to the public the figures of the export and sales of blended whiskey as separate from the pot still whiskey?
As I explained to the Deputy in the answer, the statistics of domestic exports are brought to account according to the headings of the Official Export List. They are not segregated.
I view of the fact that since 1954 an attempt has been made to get into the American market with blended whiskey, surely the public are entitled to the information as to what the sales of that type of whiskey are, particularly as they are paying, through taxation, to promote the sales campaign in America?
That is a different question.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I would like to raise on the adjournment the question of the failure of the Taoiseach to give information to the public in connection with this important matter.
Was the reason not given to the Deputy that the information was not available in the form he asked?
With due respect, this is the third time on which I have put down a question of this nature in order to give the Government an opportunity of segregating the sales. They are available if the Taoiseach wants to get them.
The feasibility of doing that can be examined.