asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will consider making representations to the National Coal Board to give special consideration to Limerick, because of difficulties arising out of handling and discharging large cargoes of American coal, for which the ports of Dublin and Cork are more suitable.

The allocation between the different port areas of the coal merchants' share of coal imported from Britain is a matter for arrangement between the merchants themselves. To the extent that deliveries from Britain are inadequate, Fuel Importers, Limited will make coal available from their stocks.