asked the Minister for Finance whether the Tariff Commission has yet presented a report on the application made on behalf of the coach-building industry for a customs duty on imported coach and motor bodies; and, if not, if he is in a position to indicate when a report thereon may be expected.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Coachbuilding Industry and a Tariff.
I am informed by the Tariff Commissioners that their report on the application to which the Deputy refers is still under consideration. The matter is being dealt with as expeditiously as possible, and I understand that the Commissioners hope to present the report in the near future.
Is the Minister aware that the employees of many of the coachmaking firms in the country are at present working short time and that the whole industry is in a very precarious way at present, and will he expedite the report?
Yes, I shall deal with it as rapidly as possible. I should like to point out that the Grain Inquiry proved much heavier than the members of the Tariff Commission anticipated when they took it up. Seventeen public sittings have had to be held to deal with it and a large number of private sittings. But for that, this particular report would have been issued before now.
Is the Minister now apologising for appointing the Tariff Commission to hold the Grain Inquiry?
I am explaining the difficulties.