andMr. Clinton asked the Minister for Agriculture if it is mandatory on this country to import maize from the USA under the agreement to export 5,000 tons of sugar to that country; and, if so, if he will state the amount.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Imports of Maize from USA.
7.
I would suggest that the Deputies might consult the provisions of the Agreement which is available in the Dáil Library and which sets out the position in full.
Would the Minister care to answer the question, which is quite a simple one?
Is it not better that the Deputy should consult the Agreement to which I have referred? If it is necessary to ask any further questions that can be done.
May I ask the Minister if, in fact, the figure contained in the new Agreement is not 10,000 tons of sugar?
No.
5,000 tons for the coming year?
The importation provision in the present Agreement refers to the first 5,000 tons of sugar sold to the United States Government.
Is the Minister aware that American papers are full of an allegation that a new Agreement has been entered into, under which Ireland is to export 10,000 tons to the United States in the coming year and that these newspaper references in the American Press, while dwelling on the 10,000 tons of sugar to be imported from Ireland, make no reference to any corresponding obligation to import coarse grain?
Neither is there any obligation.
Is a copy of the new Agreement available?
The obligation refers only to the first 5,000 tons exported.
Is there not a new Agreement in respect of the coming year?
Not so far as I know.
Is the Minister aware that the American newspapers are carrying stories to the effect that the Honey Bee Bill has had a rider attached to it in the Senate and House of Representatives allocating to Ireland a quota of 10,000 tons of sugar? Is there any copy of that Agreement available?
There is no Agreement.
Is it true or is it false?
There is no such Agreement. The Agreement to which this Parliamentary Question refers is in respect of the export of 5,000 tons of sugar to the United States Government and that Agreement, a copy of which can be found in the Library, sets out the conditions contained therein.
Am I not correct in understanding the Minister to refer to an agreement which operated during the past year? Am I not also correct in stating that the American newspapers are full of the story that under the Honey Bee Bill, Ireland is to export 10,000 tons of sugar to the United States?
I suggest that the Deputy should give notice of that question.
It is only in the form of a proposal as yet.
It is a mystery to me.