asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that the British Board of Trade has issued an order that all roofing slates sold in Britain after June 28th, 1930, must bear an indication of origin, and that this order is likely to interfere with the sale of Irish slates in Britain; and if, in view of the fact that the quantity of British slates sold in the Free State greatly exceeds the quantity of Irish slates sold in Britain, he will take steps to restrict the importation of British slates, so as to ensure that no additional unemployment will result here from the action of the British Government.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Roofing Slates.
I am aware of the issue of an Order in Council requiring all imported roofing slates sold or exposed for sale in Great Britain and Northern Ireland (United Kingdom) to bear an indication of origin but do not consider that this Order, which is not directed specifically against Irish slates, need necessarily interfere with their sale. As stated in my reply to the Deputy's question on 27th February, I propose to introduce a Merchandise Marks Bill which will make provision for the marking of goods imported into An Saorstát, but I have no present power to restrict the importation of slates. Wider considerations than a mere impulse to retaliate enter into any proposal for the restriction of imports, particularly where that impulse is directed against one only of the possible exporting countries.
Is the Minister not aware that this order of the British Board of Trade is the result of an agitation which has been conducted for some time in England designed to discourage the use of Irish slates by the Glasgow Corporation? In view of that fact, does the Minister not think that the effect of the order will be to damage the trade in Irish slates in Scotland?
I am aware that the considerations which the Deputy stated in the first part of his supplementary question apply, but I do not agree with his conclusion.