asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the amount of urea fertiliser imported into this country over the past two years and the reason for such importation in view of the adverse effect on Irish fertiliser factories.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fertiliser Stocks.
46.
I am informed by the Central Statistics Office that imports of urea in the year 1970 amounted to 393,343 cwts. valued at £517,929. Provisional figures for 1971 indicate that 610,184 cwts of urea valued £854,863 were imported in that year.
As regards the reason for these imports, I understand that urea is a cheap form of nitrogenous fertiliser and that there is an increasing demand for it by the farming community.
Naturally it is somewhat cheaper, but has the Minister considered the effect on the employment of Irish workers of the importation of this type of fertiliser over the past two years?
I have. This is engaging my attention at the present time. There are discussions going on with representatives of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, my own Department, the importers, the compounders and the trade unions in this regard. The doubling of the imports does not mean the eroding of the demand for the home-produced fertiliser. There is a substantially increasing demand all the time for fertilisers.
Has it not an adverse effect on employment?
It has, yes.
And the Minister is not worried?
I am, but it is a question of a sizeable adverse effect.
He would want to show it in a more effective way.
On the other hand, it is necessary to have fertilisers at the proper price for the farmer.
Is it not the case that urea is not manufactured here? Is it not further the case that the competing Irish-manufactured fertiliser, which is calcium ammonium nitrate, has been increasing in production significantly over the past three years and that there has been something like 30,000 more tons of calcium ammonium nitrate produced in the last year than was produced three years ago?
Certainly as far as the first two parts of the supplementary——
The Deputy has answered for the Minister.
That is the point, except that I am not too sure of the details in relation to the last point he made.
Is urea manufactured here?
No.
It has unique qualities.
Employment is unique too.
There is no loss of employment.
47.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the amount of unsold stocks of fertilisers in Irish factories at present and at the same date last year.
From information furnished by the fertiliser manufacturing companies, I understand that their stocks of fertilisers unsold at 25th February, 1972, amounted to 244,266 tons compared with 194,483 tons at 25th February, 1971.
Has the Minister asked his officials to find out the reason for this?
Yes. This is what has created the need for these discussions that are going on involving all those interests.
Is the Minister contemplating any additional protection for Irish fertiliser factories?
The only type of protection that can be offered is a protection which increases the cost of fertiliser to the agricultural community, and that problem is not easy of solution.
The Minister must strike a balance between the expense to the farmer and the effect on employment.
Is the Minister aware that the prices of fertiliser and manures has increased this year and last year? Is he also aware that, as a result of that, never were there higher dividends paid to people who have money invested, and would he take some steps to protect the farmers who have to pay the increased prices?
That is a separate question.