asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the number of licences granted to importers in the Republic for the importation of compound and straight fertilisers from Northern Ireland; and the name and the tonnage in each case for the year 1976 and to date in 1977.

24.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the names of the companies or individuals who imported both compound and straight fertiliser into the Republic in the year 1976 and to date in 1977; and the tonnage in each case.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 24 together. Fertilisers—of any type—of Northern Ireland origin are free of duty and may be imported into the Republic without a licence. Comprehensive information as to the quantities imported and names of importers is not available in my Department who have records only in respect of cases in which licences are granted. It is not the practice to disclose the names of applicants to whom licences have been granted; such information is treated as confidential.

I gather from the answer that, for the importation of fertilisers from Northern Ireland a licence is not necessary. In other words, there is free movement of fertilisers between North and South. Is that right.

Yes.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary say what protection has a manufacturer of fertilisers in the Republic of Ireland against cheap imported calcium ammonium nitrate from the North Sea?

There is free trade in fertilisers within these islands.

In other words, there is no protection for the workers in an Irish fertiliser manufacturing industry.

That is as a result of our membership of the various trading blocks we have joined.

The Parliamentary Secretary is evading the question so far as cheap calcium ammonium nitrate is concerned, from which both the British and Northern Ireland manufacturers receive benefit. Is it dump priced calcium ammonium nitrate or is it because of North Sea oil?

I dealt with that in a previous question.

The question deals with licences and the name of a company.

I will quote the Parliamentary Secretary from last week if he likes.

When the Parliamentary Secretary states that licences are not required does he mean that VAT is not payable on those imports?

My reply merely relates to the question of the licence. The question of VAT is a separate matter.

It is not actually. If no licences are required then what guarantees has the Parliamentary Secretary that if VAT is payable that it is not being evaded?

That is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners.

Is there any regulation about the quality of the fertiliser which comes in? Is there a regulation in the Department of Industry and Commerce?

That is a separate question.

That is buck-passing.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the Revenue Commissioners have no record of the imports of such fertiliser? Is he further aware that the system of grading that fertiliser in Northern Ireland and here is different and is misleading to such an extent that many farmers here are buying 10, 10, 20 which is rated differently in Northern Ireland and they are not getting value for money?

That is the naked truth.

Would the Department not look into that? They should have looked into it months ago.

If there is a question of evasion of taxation it is a matter for the Minister for Finance and the Revenue Commissioners.

There is also the matter of quality.