asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state what trade treaties or other trade arrangements (whether by way of modus vivendi, exchange of notes, etc.) concluded under the auspices of the Government of the Irish Free State or inherited by them will have to be denounced or otherwise terminated if the Control of Manufactures Bill passes into law; what steps he is taking to have formal notification of his proposals for the control of manufactures made to the foreign Governments bound to this country by trade arrangements which are likely to be affected by these proposals, and what stay does he intend to put upon the operation of the Control of Manufactures Bill so as to allow for the agreed period for denunciation or termination in the several cases.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Control of Manufactures Bill and Trade Treaties.
I am not satisfied on my present information that the Control of Manufactures Bill when passed into law will require the denunciation or termination of any trade treaties or other trade arrangements which the Deputy has in mind.
The Minister has in mind in making that reply the provisions of the German Trade Treaty to which I have already called attention?
The German Treaty requires us to give most-favoured-nation treatment to German nationals.
The German Trade Treaty is in the main founded upon most-favoured-nation treatment. But under the Treaty we guarantee national treatment to the acquisition of certain property by inheritance and to all disposition of property, once properly acquired. Is that in accordance with the Control of Manufactures Bill?
I am having the general question of the reactions of this Bill upon all our international obligations examined and, in so far as that examination has proceeded, it does not appear that the Bill is in conflict with any of our international obligations.
The provision I have alluded to in the German Trade Treaty would, I should imagine, be one of the first to fall for consideration. Is the Minister's reply founded upon that consideration?
The Deputy is right in that assumption.
The trade treaty with Germany has been considered and it does not conflict with the Control of Manufactures Bill in its present form?
The Deputy is right in assuming that the passage of the Bill would not involve the denunciation of that treaty.