asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce how many Irish factories weave furnishing cloth.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Furnishing Cloth: Home-Woven and Imported.
37.
The information available to my Department indicates that seven Irish factories weave furnishing cloths.
38.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether it is correct that no furnishing cloth can be imported unless a certain amount of the same cloth is being bought from an Irish company; and, if so, what are the proportions and the relative costs, expressed in percentages, of the home and imported cloths.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The importation of furnishing cloths is regulated by quotas and tariffs. Wool and cotton moquette are subject to quotas; wool moquette may be imported by registered importers in quantities related to their total purchases in a basic year. There is no provision at present for imports of cotton moquette.
Most other furnishing fabrics are liable to duty and may be imported without restriction on payment of the duty or in some cases under duty-free licences. The duty-free licensing position is complicated but may be outlined briefly as follows: unprinted furnishing fabrics may be imported without restriction under duty-free licence if they cost not less than 9/- a square yard or if they are genuine furnishing brocades under 4 ozs. a square yard. In the case of unprinted fabrics under 9/- a square yard licences may be issued on the basis of 3 square yards for each square yard purchased from home mills. Licences are granted for damask ticken on a basis of 2 square yards for every 5 square yards purchased from home mills. No licences are granted for curtain linings or loomstate cloth.
Duty-free licences for the import of printed furnishing fabrics are granted on the basis of 3 square yards for each square yard purchased from home sources.
Because of the considerable range of prices and cloths I would be unable to give a comparison of home and import prices of the cloths.
Am I correct in thinking this is one of the orders tabled for confirmation in the Imposition of Duties Bill at present before the House?
I am unable to answer that. It probably is.
I think it is and, if so, we can have our discussion on the matter then.