asked the Minister for Finance why cigarettes, previously manufactured in Dublin under licence by a firm (name supplied) are now imported directly; and if he is satisfied that both the tobacco blend and the country of origin of the tobacco are still the same.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cigarette Imports.
13.
The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to furnish information about the affairs of individual companies which may have been received by the Revenue Commissioners in the course of their duties.
I raised this matter in a different context at the time Deputy Jim Ryan was Minister for Finance. Am I correct in stating there are certain regulations regarding the amount of water and flavouring that may be added in the manufacture of cigarettes? Are these regulations not stringently controlled by the Minister's Department? If so, why should the licence under which the cigarettes in question were manufactured be withdrawn?
The cigarettes to which the Deputy is referring are not manufactured here. There are certain provisions relating to the manufacture of cigarettes here and they are rigidly enforced. The Deputy's question refers to the importation of certain cigarettes. The information which he is seeking could not be given without giving confidential information about the affairs of certain firms and I am sure he will accept it would be wrong for any Minister to disclose information which the Revenue Commissioners receive in a confidential way in the ordinary course of their duties.
In view of the fact that the cigarettes were manufactured in Dublin up to quite recently and that it is only now that they are being imported, will the Minister make inquiries to see if this business will be carried on in Dublin? The cigarettes manufactured here were much better.
My information is that cigarettes are still being manufactured in Dublin but that the demand is greater than the supply. As a temporary measure cigarettes are being imported; incidentally, duty is being paid on them.