andMr. Crotty asked the Taoiseach if there have been any imports of fertilisers into this country in the past 12 months and, if so, from what countries.

In the year 1971, manufactured fertilisers were imported from Great Britain, the Six Counties, Belgium, Denmark, Germany (Federal Republic), France, Netherlands, Sweden, Spain, Poland, Germany Eastern, Finland, Israel, Japan, United States of America, Canada, and unmanufactured fertilisers from Great Britain, Belgium, Germany (Federal Republic), France, Netherlands, Morocco, United States of America, Chile.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary comment on the amount compared with the amount of fertiliser imported in the two or three years before last year and would he say what effect this had on the fertiliser factories in this country and on employment?

I would not be in a position to comment on the Deputy's question. I do not have the information before me. I should imagine that any excessive imports of fertilisers into this country would have a bad effect on industries here.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary know that the price of fertiliser has gone up by £4 per ton since last year?

I have not got those figures. I would not be in a position to comment.

That is a separate question.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there is an increasing amount of stocks of fertiliser being piled up in factories and that these factories and the employees are very much concerned?

I am not in a position to comment. I should imagine that if the Deputy puts down a question to that effect to the Minister concerned he will be given the information.

Surely the Parliamentary Secretary has in his brief a comparison of the imports of fertilisers in the year 1971 with those in 1970 and 1969?

I have not got that information before me.

Does he not think that as one who is, with the Taoiseach, in charge of statistics that information should be forthcoming——

I am not in a capacity to think in the context.

——particularly in view of the questions that were addressed to the Minister for Industry and Commerce last week when there were strong complaints by members here and by trade unions to the effect that there was an undue importation of these fertilisers to the detriment of employment?