§ 78. Mr. MOONEYasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether the Government now find that there are about 20,000 tons of surplus potatoes in Ireland; whether the Government are allowing a large quantity of potatoes to be exported from Ireland to England; if so, what quantity, and can he state on what basis the selection is made by his Department of the firms to 931 whom permits to export are given; and if old-established firms ill Newry and elsewhere are being refused permits, while they are freely given to persons who have only recently started in this business?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Duke)The Department of Agriculture inform me that, in their opinion, the surplus of potatoes in Ireland available for export is considerably less than stated in the question. During the past ten days licences have been granted for the export of 4,200 tons which has been secured by the military but were not immediately required for Army and Navy purposes. At the request of the military authorities the licences for the export of these potatoes were issued to the Army contracting merchants who had secured the potatoes on behalf of the military. No licence has been granted to any other firm.
§ Mr. MOONEYIs it not a fact that in the North of Ireland three separate firms who have started for the purpose of purchasing potatoes for the Army authorities have been given licences, while old-established firms have been refused such licences?
§ Mr. DUKEI cannot discriminate in that way. I can only say, in regard to this matter, that it happened that potatoes were in the hands of merchants who had acquired them for military purposes, and it obviously would not have been proper to leave those potatoes in their hands to be destroyed by the advance of the hot weather.
§ Mr. MOONEYIs it not a fact that firms who have potatoes on hand and who have applied for permission to export them have been refused such permission, while firms only recently started in the same towns have been granted permission?
§ Mr. DUKEI was not aware of those facts. If my hon. Friend gives me particulars of any discrimination, I will try to have it rectified.