asked the Minister for Finance the tonnage of oil imported into (a) Bantry harbour and (b) Dublin port; and the total revenue accruing from each.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Oil Imports.
24.
I cannot give separate figures for the tonnage of oil imported into Bantry harbour as this would involve disclosing information furnished to the Customs by an individual firm. Corresponding figures for Dublin port are not readily available and would have to be specially compiled from source documents. This task would take about three weeks to complete. Accordingly if the Deputy wishes to pursue the matter it would be useful if he would give advance notice of his intention to repeat this part of the question so that the work may be put in hand.
The total revenue yield from the Customs and Excise duties on hydrocarbon oils in 1969-70 came to just over £43 million. The bulk of this was attributable to oils coming through Dublin port from the Whitegate refinery and direct from abroad. Oils are imported at Bantry only for temporary storage pending re-exportation and no duty is collected thereon.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary say what revenue has accrued to Bantry port? Did he give that figure?
If the Deputy's colleagues kept quite he would have heard me saying that I cannot give separate figures for the tonnage of oil imported into Bantry harbour as this would involve disclosing information furnished to the Customs by an individual firm. It would be against normal practice to give those figures.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that even the Cork county manager appealed for the establishment of a harbour authority at Bantry Bay?
That does not arise on the question which relates to oil imports.
The Minister gave it away for nothing.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary say if an agreement was made with the Gulf Oil people that all the storage facilities would be available and that no harbour dues would be paid?
That is a matter for another Department.