asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the reason imports of approximately £9 million of fertilisers have been allowed into Ireland from Morocco over the past five years; if he is aware that substantial job losses have occured at NET, Arklow, because of these imports, when we should be supporting our own State industries; and the plans, if any, he has to stop these imports.
Written Answers. - Importation of Moroccan Fertilisers.
44.
Limerick East): The £9 million worth of fertilisers imported from Morocco over the past five years consist totally of natural phosphate or superphosphates. These imports have no impact on NET's operation as this company is solely a nitrogen producer.
As the Deputy is aware, phosphates are one of the three constituents — nitrogen, phosphate and potash (NPK) — used in the production of compound fertilisers. Irish compound fertilisers blenders must import their phosphate requirements from Morocco or other countries as Ireland has no commercial indigenous supplies of this commodity.