asked the Taoiseach if he will state in respect of each of the past four years the total amount of margarine imported; its cost; and the countries from which it was imported.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Margarine Imports.
4.
With your permission, Sir, I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statement showing the data requested.
Following is the statement:
Imports of margarine in each year 1967 to 1970.
|
Country of Origin |
Quantity |
Value |
||||||
|
1967 |
1968 |
1969 |
1970 |
1967 |
1968 |
1969 |
1970 |
|
|
cwt. |
cwt. |
cwt. |
cwt. |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
|
|
Great Britain |
12,318 |
2,389 |
10,706 |
2,728 |
76,882 |
15,754 |
71,677 |
24,720 |
|
The Six Counties |
— |
— |
45 |
— |
— |
— |
329 |
— |
|
Re-Imports |
0 |
— |
— |
3 |
1 |
— |
— |
106 |
|
Denmark |
113 |
64 |
265 |
— |
605 |
372 |
2,025 |
— |
|
Norway |
561 |
522 |
3,496 |
1,707 |
2,998 |
3,040 |
20,279 |
13,024 |
|
Netherlands |
— |
— |
25 |
0 |
— |
— |
219 |
5 |
|
Total |
12,992 |
2,975 |
14,537 |
4,438 |
80,486 |
19,166 |
94,529 |
37,855 |
0 = negligible quantity.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary satisfied with the trend which shows such an increase in imports of margarine to an agricultural country? Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that it is the poor who cannot afford butter who have to buy margarine? Would it not be much better if the Government encouraged our own people, and especially the poor, to eat butter and made it available to them at a reasonable price?
The Deputy will see that in 1967 there was an import of 12,318 cwts. and in 1970 the figure has been reduced to 2,728 cwts, which is a considerable improvement in the situation.