asked the Taoiseach if he will state in respect of the past 14 months the total import and export figures (values) for trade between this country and East Germany.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Trade with East Germany.
5.
In the 14-month period ending on 31st May, 1971, imports from Eastern Germany amounted to £1,031,844 and total exports amounted to £28,692.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether one, two, three or more companies are involved in these imports?
I do not have that information available but if the Deputy would write to me I will let him have the information he requires.
As the Parliamentary Secretary knows about it perhaps he could save me the trouble.
The Deputy must make up his mind whether he is interested in it or whether he is making mischief.
I resent that remark. On a point of order, I consider it my duty to ask the Parliamentary Secretary a question and when I do so I expect to get a simple, modest answer from him.
If I have the figures correctly there were well over £1 million imports and £28,000 exports. Is this wide difference not the very reason why there was a ban placed on the importation of potash from East Germany a few years ago? The story that what has been done is being done in the interests of the farming community does not make up the difference. The deal was that there should be agricultural exports balancing the value of the imports in potash and that in no way has been secured. I question the wisdom of the Government—if it was the Government—who made the decision to raise the ban.
As the Deputy will appreciate, I am not able to tell him what happened a couple of years ago.
What I am really asking the Parliamentary Secretary is whether or not he is aware that the ban was imposed because of the ridiculous adverse balance of trade which existed between East Germany and ourselves. No improvement, in fact a disimprovement, if anything, is now evident during the past 12 months since the ban was raised. I query why the ban was raised so quickly and so speedily after it had been regarded as necessary?
I would respectfully remind the Deputy once more that I was not in a position to know two or three years ago and maybe he might apply the question to the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries for more specific information.
I appreciate the Parliamentary Secretary's position in this, but whether I address such a question as this to the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries or not it will, by its very nature, be directed to the Taoiseach's Department. There is no aid or help for me in the suggestion that I put a question down to the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries because it will not be answered from that source.
The specific term of reference of the Deputy's question is: "To ask the Taoiseach if he will state in respect of the past 14 months the total import/export figures (values) for trade between this country and East Germany." With great respect, I have given the Deputy that information.