asked the Minister for Agriculture the amount of sugar included in import licences granted in each of the last five financial years ended 1963-64.

34.

asked the Minister for Agriculture the number of licences granted for the importation of sugar during each of the twelve months ended March, 1964, and the amount included in each such licence.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take questions Nos. 33 and 34 together and, as the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, to circulate it with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:—

I. Quantity of Sugar Licensed for Import.

(a) Includes licences for 12,950 tons of foreign-owned raw sugar imported for refining by the Sugar Company on contract and for subsequent re-export.

II. Details of Sugar Import Licences issued during the year ended 31st March, 1964.

(b)Foreign-owned raw sugar imported for refining by the Sugar Company on contract and for subsequent re-export.

Surely the Minister for Agriculture can answer question No. 34—the number of licences granted for the importation of sugar during each of the 12 months ended March, 1964, and the amount included in each such licence? The question asked for details of sugar import licences issued during the year ended 31st March, 1964.

I have given the Deputy a very long list. I have set out exactly in a list, which is quite a formidable one, all the information sought in these two questions.

Could the Minister say what number of licences were granted during the year ended 31st March, 1964, for the importation of sugar?

That is, beginning, not ending, 1964?

Question No. 34.

The licences promised would total about 6,000 tons of sugar.

And how many licences, would the Minister say, were granted to cover that 6,000 tons?

About four or five to date.

Could the Minister further state if supplies were available at that stage from the Irish Sugar Company when these licences were granted?

I informed the House on a previous occasion that before the issue of licences by me, I discussed this matter with the General Manager of the Sugar Company and I have had correspondence with him on this subject. I understand the Deputy and some others are coming to see me about this matter. Before promising these licences, as I say, I had a consultation with the General Manager and during the course of their being prepared, Lieut-General Costello was consulted as to the terms of these licences.

Did the General Manager of the Sugar Company agree that these licences should be granted?

There was no misunderstanding between Lieut-General Costello and myself on this subject, as far as I know.

Would the Minister give an undertaking to the House that no further licences will be granted, due to the jeopardy in which the Sugar Company has been placed?

The Minister does not have to give an undertaking. I understand the Deputy attended a meeting in Carlow on this subject. I think it was 31st March. Some days prior to that date, I had, in fact, a letter written to the effect that no further licences would be issued.

That letter did not appear at the meeting I attended. It was not at the meeting.

I was not asked for it but it was sent. It was posted on the 26th.