Dáil Éireann - Volume 82 - 11 March, 1941

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Shipping.

Mr. Norton Mr. Norton

277

[277] Mr. Norton asked the Minister for Supplies if he will state what steps, if any, have been taken by the Government to obtain shipping for use by this country; whether any, and, if so, how many such ships have been purchased or leased and the tonnage of such ships.

Mr. Lemass Mr. Lemass

Mr. Lemass: The Government have taken every step which appears to be practicable with a view to buying or chartering tonnage for the importation of essential commodities from overseas. Up to the present it has not been found possible to charter or purchase any vessels.

Mr. Byrne Mr. Byrne

Mr. Byrne: Can the Minister say why it is that a number of ships are lying idle at the North Wall? What is the cause of not putting them into use, seeing that some of them are Irish-owned?

Mr. Lemass Mr. Lemass

Mr. Lemass: I am not aware that there are any Irish-owned ships here lying idle.

Mr. Byrne Mr. Byrne

Mr. Byrne: There are two ships belonging to Messrs. Palgrave Murphy, Ltd., at the North Wall and I got complaints from men who worked on them that they were idle. These men were anxious to be at work.

Mr. Lemass Mr. Lemass

Mr. Lemass: The vessels the Deputy refers to are not capable of doing transatlantic voyages.

Mr. Norton Mr. Norton

Mr. Norton: Are there any grounds for believing that it would be possible to acquire ships in order to augment our shipping tonnage at an early date? I think we must face the position that there is no possibility of augmenting our present tonnage.

Mr. Lemass Mr. Lemass

Mr. Lemass: I would not like to express an opinion on that. Every effort possible is being made.

Mr. Norton Mr. Norton

Mr. Norton: Does the Minister say we have no use for ships except to cross the Atlantic?

Mr. Lemass Mr. Lemass

Mr. Lemass: No. Vessels that are capable of undertaking cross-Channel voyages are making voyages when the occasion offers, as far as I know.

Mr. Norton Mr. Norton

278

[278] Mr. Norton: These ships, I understand, are at the North Wall for the past seven weeks and have not moved from it. Will the Minister make inquiries to ascertain why they are lying there idle?

Mr. Dillon Mr. Dillon

Mr. Dillon: Is the Minister aware that it was recently alleged that the wharves at Holyhead and Birkenhead were piled high with merchandise consigned to Ireland, and that railway wagons were lying unused, because there was no means of transporting goods to Ireland?

Mr. Lemass Mr. Lemass

Mr. Lemass: It was also pointed out for the Deputy's information that that statement was not correct.

Dáil Éireann 82 Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. Irish Shipping.

Questions

19410311