replied with reference to the matter of roofing tiles he thought he could not issue any further prohibition orders to the Truce but he would look into the matter. It would be impossible in the matter of leather to prohibit imports as there was no "upper" leather manufactured in Ireland. It would be a great mistake to prohibit the import of foreign leather and boots.
With regard to woollens he thought he could prohibit the import of the heavier goods, but the lighter ladies woollens were not produced in Ireland.
He agreed with the Deputy for S. Dublin (G. Gavan Duffy) about the preparation of men for the office of consuls. The difficulty at present was that they had only a few appointments to make. It was a very expensive service and even if the Dáil were willing to vote the money for training men he would not be inclined to recommend such a scheme at present. With regard to employment of half-time consuls, those with actual consular work could be half-time, but their consuls were rather trade commissioners and half-time men, he agreed, would not be suitable. Referring to the Overseas Trading Co. he said it was a means of communication with foreign countries and places where they had no consul and of obtaining information on all matters of trade and commerce which he could not have written for as a Department of Dáil Éireann. He also thought he could use that address for letters through the post. Unfortunately the name was given out by the consuls in a way it should not have been and it became known to the enemy and had to be discontinued.
He did not think it would be practical to supply any précis of the reports of the Commission of Inquiry into the Resources of Industries of Ireland. There was a very considerable amount of work done and the impatience shown by the Dáil was not justified. There was a very difficult task imposed on the commission. They could not be expected to appoint three or four staffs with only £5,000 voted to them and the result was although they had four or five committees they had only one staff in the office to carry on the work. He thought in fairness to everyone the committee could not have proceeded more expeditiously than it did. He thought this was an omnibus commission and the most that could be expected from it was general information on which further departmental commissions could base their work. The members of the commission had worked very hard and he considered they deserved every thanks from the Dáil for the results they had given.