asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether, in view of the statement of the Minister for Local Government and Public Health in the Dáil on November 3rd, that that Minister had "no knowledge as to any consequences which may have followed to any firm which did not succeed in competition for current contracts," he will make arrangements to ensure that the Advisory Committee established under the Local Authorities (Combined Purchasing) Act, 1925, shall be kept fully informed of the possible effect in increasing unemployment in this country of the placing of contracts abroad.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - EFFECTS OF FOREIGN CONTRACTS.
TOMAS MAC EOIN
I see no reason to suppose that the Advisory Committee is not as competent as I am to form its own opinion on such a matter. The possible effect of giving a contract to the lowest tenderer has to be considered with the probable effect on the national finances of a practice of giving competitive contracts on any other basis.
Does the Minister contend that the Committee is in the same position to know whether there is a good number, or any large number, of unemployed men in the particular trades as his Department?
Possibly not, but that is not the whole basis of their consideration.
The question is whether the Committee will be "kept fully informed of the possible effect, in increasing unemployment in this country, of the placing of contracts abroad." In placing any particular contract abroad the question for consideration is what effect the placing of that contract will have on unemployment here in the trades affected by the contract. Will that be placed before the Committee?
I have already stated that I think the Committee is competent to form its own conclusions as to what should be laid before it. Any information they ask for from my Department will, of course, be given them.