asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce what licences have been granted for the export of hardwoods in the round during the month of November 1962.
83.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Export of Hardwoods.
82.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce under what circumstance a licence was granted for the export of sycamore logs in the round from County Donegal between 5th November and 8th November, 1962.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 83 together.
One licence for the export of hardwood in the round was issued in November, 1962 and this was in respect of a number of logs, mainly sycamore, originating in the North Donegal area. The export of timber from this area is freely licensed.
What proof had the Minister that this export originated in County Donegal? What proof had he that it was second-class quality?
When the Revenue Commissioners were informed that certain logs were being exported from Donegal without an export licence they had an examination of these logs carried out. They were represented to the Revenue Commissioner officers as logs originating in Donegal. I take it that the officers were satisfied from the examination that they so originated and the licence was issued as a result of that examination.
My information is that there were 40 crates of veneer contained in this cargo. In view of the fact that there is grave unemployment in the vicinity of Donegal, would the Minister take steps to see that hardwoods and veneer will not be exported in future, particularly in view of the fact that there is a factory there with a healthy State grant of £68,000?
The export concerned represented £15,000 in veneer, of which the logs concerned represented something like £380 in value. They were exported in the ordinary course of business of this factory. In giving the licence, I thought that I was doing no more than I would do for anybody else who would export similar logs. The Deputy would serve employment in Donegal better by not sniping at this industry.
If the industry is established with a large State grant to make veneer, why does it get a licence to export the raw materials of veneer and sycamore logs instead of converting the sycamore logs into veneer in Donegal?
Because I gather that the proprietor of this factory found these particular logs unsuitable for his purpose and had a ready market for them at whatever overseas port he was sending them to.
If the sycamore logs were worth shipping across the ocean, they were not being shipped for fire-wood. They must have been shipped for veneer. If they were sent for conversion into veneer, why were they shipped away by a factory to which we gave a grant of £60,000 to manufacture veneer? Is it not very daft?
If the Deputies will supply me with whatever information they have and which I have not got, I will look further into this. As far as I know, the logs shipped were not suitable for the purposes of this factory. It was established by the Revenue Commissioners that they originated in North Donegal, a place from which the export of timber is freely licensed.
Would the Minister ship sycamore from one end of the earth to the other for conversion into firewood? If we gave £60,000 to establish a veneer factory in Donegal, why are we shipping the raw material abroad?
I am calling Question No. 84.
Is the Minister satisfied it was of second-class quality?
I am calling Question No. 84.
I am not an expert. I can only depend on the report of the Revenue Commissioners.
How did the inspector know it was cut in Donegal?
If Deputy Harte can prove it was not got in North Donegal, I can act.