Flour Imports

Summary

Imports rose from 4,144 tonnes in 1980 to 7,305 in 1981 and reached 4,280 tonnes by April 1982. Yates raised concerns about rising imports and the milling workforce, asking whether the Government would seek EEC action over possible dumping; Ahern noted domestic flour supplies 97% of consumption and undertook to pass on the concerns.

Ivan Yates Mr. Yates Fine Gael

asked the Taoiseach the amount of flour imports for (a) 1980, (b) 1981 and (c) so far this year.

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Bertie Ahern Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Mr. B. Ahern) Fianna Fáil

Imports of flour amounted to 4,144 tonnes in 1980, 7,305 tonnes in 1981 and 4,280 tonnes in the period January-April 1982. April 1982 is the latest month for which data are available.

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Ivan Yates Mr. Yates Fine Gael

Is the Minister aware that approximately 1,200 workers are involved in the flour milling industry here and that for the month of April this year the level of imports has doubled over the previous one? Would the Government consider raising at EEC level the possibility of national security being threatened should our own production of flour be limited, so that we could invoke the clause to prevent this alleged dumping of flour on the Irish market?

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Bertie Ahern Mr. B. Aherne Fianna Fáil

The points raised are not of a statistical nature. Although there has been an increase in the April figure, home produced flour accounts for 97 per cent of the consumption of flour in the country. However, I will certainly pass on the points made by the Deputy.

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