asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware of the difficulty that housewives in rural Ireland experience in obtaining supplies of breadsoda for home baking purposes; and if he has any assurances to offer them to allay their fears in this regard.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Breadsoda Supplies.
13.
Mr. Kitt
A combination of circumstances, mainly related to cross-channel transport, caused disruption of breadsoda supplies during the past few months. There is reason to believe that this precipitated panic buying resulted in some consumers purchasing supplies far in excess of their needs.
I am assured that supplies are now being made available to distributors at the same levels as last year's orders and that it is expected that they can be maintained at those levels. As there appears to be some increase in demand this year I am in touch with the suppliers about a further increase in supplies.
Mr. Kitt
Is the Minister aware that this shortage is very acute? Yesterday morning I sent a man to make inquiries from one of the leading wholesalers in Dublin—I will give the name to the Minister if he wishes —and he could not get an ounce of salt or an ounce of breadsoda. Is the Minister aware that there is a rumour rampant throughout the country that explosives are made from breadsoda? I do not know how true that is. I know it blows up bread but whether it can blow up anything else I do not know. If this rumour is not true and the Minister were to scotch it, it might stop this panic buying. Did the Minister hear that rumour?
I think it is very useful to refer to rumours and to try to scotch them. The difficulties, both in regard to salt and to breadsoda, have been caused in large measure by transportation problems. Both of these are extremely common, easily obtained and cheap chemicals. I do not want to give any information about how you make explosives but there are substances which are sold by the hundredweight which are cheaper and more suitable for making explosives than breadsoda, which is usually sold in very small quantities. If people buy only for their current needs, as they have been doing in the past, then there is no need for extreme shortage. There was a shortage which was largely caused by panic. There will be a transient difficulty because of that. I am sure it is a transient one and that transport is the chief cause of the difficulty.
Mr. Kitt
I hope the Minister is right.
In view of the statement made by the Minister that the difficulties of importation are caused by transport difficulties has he given any thought to the rationalisation of transportation from abroad?
That is a separate question.
It is not.
Deputy Burke may not seek to dictate to the Chair in this matter. The Chair is in control of Question Time. Question No. 14.