asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if the Government have permitted the import of Polish fertilisers into this country; the amount of such imports; and if he does not consider such imports detrimental to employment in our factories.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Polish Fertiliser Imports.
84.
I have no function in regard to the matters raised in the question. Provision is made in the Imposition of Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act, 1968, for dealing with complaints of injurious dumping of goods into this country.
If the Minister has no function, who has?
I referred the Deputy to the legislation under which matters of this kind are considered. For his benefit I will repeat it. The legislation referred to is the Imposition of Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act, 1968.
The Minister is aware that that is intended to deal with dumping over a long period.
It deals with dumping generally. The question deals with the importation of fertilisers into this country. That is not a matter for my Department.
I am asking a simple question. Is there or is there not importation of fertilisers from Poland? If there is, it is detrimental to the Irish factories. Surely, as Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, the Deputy has some interest in the importation of such fertilisers.
I have a great interest in the cost of farm inputs, but I can only say that Deputy Esmonde should consider the legislation I have told him about and possibly he might be able to elucidate the matter himself. I am telling him of the delineation of responsibility in so far as it concerns my Department.
Surely if the Minister has any interest in the matter he could have got the information for me.
It was not my business.
The question could have been transferred to the relevant Minister. If the Minister has accepted the question, it is his duty to answer it.
I am trying to help Deputy Esmonde.
We are importing fertilisers from behind the Iron Curtain. We have no trade with Poland. We have an adverse trade balance. The Minister is afraid to say that.
I am not afraid to say anything. I am afraid that Deputy Esmonde, much to my surprise, put down this question to the wrong Minister.
It is not Deputy Esmonde's fault.
I am 21 years in this House and when I put down a question to the wrong Minister it was transferred to the right Minister. The Minister has accepted responsibility by accepting the question. I am entitled to an answer.
The Chair cannot compel any Minister to answer any specific question.
The Deputy has a right to an answer. This question has been passed to the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries. He refuses to answer it. The question was not directed to the right Minister.
I am entitled to be protected here.
It was done deliberately.
It appears necessary for me to remind Deputy Esmonde of the reply I have already given. That is that I have no function in regard to the matters raised in the question. The question relates to the Imposition of Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act, 1968 relative to the importation of fertilisers.
Had the question been addressed to the Minister for Industry and Commerce would it have evoked a reply?
That does not arise.