asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that 30 per cent of eggs required for the home market are smuggled into Ireland and sold as Irish eggs in shops and stores throughout the Twenty-six Counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

: While I am aware that a considerable proportion of the home market consumption of eggs is imported, I am not aware that any significant proportion of such imports is illegal. There is no financial incentive to smuggle eggs at present. No restriction exists on the legal importation of eggs apart from a Department of Agriculture licence which is freely available.

As regards the latter part of the Deputy's question, the detailed regulation of the egg trade on the home market is outside my area of responsibility.