asked the Minister for Finance if he will state (a) the number of applications for concessions which were received from importers who had entered into commitments abroad before the imposition of the special import levy, (b) the number of concessions granted, (c) the number of applications refused, (d) the reasons for such refusals or rejections, and (e) the nature of the goods involved under all headings.

As the special import levy was imposed to bring about an immediate and substantial reduction in imports, it was expressed to apply to all affected goods arriving in the State after midnight on 13th March, 1956, and, as I announced in the Dáil on that date, no duty free licensing provision was attached to it. No relief from the levy was allowed to any importer on the grounds that the goods affected had been ordered before the imposition of the levy.

It would not be possible, I regret, without undue expense, to assemble particulars of the representations, both oral and written, which were received in the matter.