asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, for the information of Deputies, he will cause to be placed in the Library for a few days the legislation restrictive of foreign companies in force in Norway, Poland, Sweden, and Roumania, with some additional examples of the similar enactments in other countries.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Restrictive Legislation on Alien Business Abroad.
Copies of the numerous enactments referred to are not available for filing in the library. If the Deputy desires I can supply him with a list giving the dates of the principal laws which govern the situation in the countries named.
The Minister did refer to these four countries in particular and quoted what seemed to me the precise phrase which would appear to be taken from their enactments. I ask for the convenience of Deputies that these sections of the statute should be circulated through the library.
The statements were based on the official text or authorised translation. There are very few countries which have a definite commercial code, and the necessary references would have to be stated in a number of enactments. I think it would be both troublesome and expensive to procure for the Deputy's information and the information of the House a set of laws in such languages.
The Minister made a precise statement as to what was in force in these countries. That must have been derived from an enumeration already made of these laws and some translation or précis of what was done in each. Could the House not have the same information as the Minister had at his disposal when making the statement?
The House has got it.
It has got it from the Minister, that is all. I want the text on which the Minister was basing his statement.
I have undertaken, if the Deputy desires it, to supply a list of the particular enactments in the countries referred to.
With a statement as to what each is supposed to contain?
That would be very involved.
The Minister made a very precise and brief statement covering certain particulars as to legislation. Surely the House could have them.
In very few countries is there a definite code dealing with these matters, and the references would have to be sought in a very large number of enactments.
They have already been sought by the Minister?
Yes.
Could we not have, at any rate, the references to the particulars on which the Minister's statements were founded?
I shall see what sort of a statement I can table.
Would it be possible for the Minister to give us also some account of the result of these enactments in the various countries?
No.