asked the Minister for External Affairs if he is prepared to consider the provision of salesmen or representatives working from and under the control of the office of the High Commissioner in London to extend the trade of Irish exports in Great Britain.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Extending Irish Export Trade.
There are three Trade Inspectors serving under the High Commissioner in Great Britain, one in the London area, one in the Liverpool area and one in the Glasgow area. There are, moreover, two officials in the High Commissioner's office, most of whose time is occupied on work connected with the display of Saorstát produce at various centres in Great Britain.
In addition there are nine part-time Trade Reporters in the following centres: Leeds, West Byfleet (Surrey), Sheffield, Burslem, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Cardiff, and Newcastle-on-Tyne. It is the duty of these Reporters to supply information on the state of the market, particularly in relation to the sale of and the demand for Saorstát produce.
These Trade Representatives do not act as agents or commercial travellers for the actual sale of goods. Their duty is to watch the general interests of our trade with Great Britain and to ensure that the standard of our produce placed on the British market is maintained at the level required for successful competition. The system is working satisfactorily, and I do not at present intend to change it.
Will the Vice-President state if those representatives are whole-time representatives, and, in view of his answer, may I ask him does he not realise that if agriculture is to survive at all in this country this Department must go a good deal further than it has gone in this matter? Farmers have now got to the verge of bankruptcy, which means unemployment, and I think a good deal more could be done, as far as the export of agricultural produce is concerned, by way of extending the present work done in the High Commissioner's Office, London. I realise that good work is done, but I believe it could be greatly extended——
Is the Deputy asking a supplementary question?
Yes. The only way for the farmers to survive is by an increase in their turnover.