asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware of the acute unemployment existing amongst the employees of woollen mills due to shortage of orders; if his attention has been directed to the correspondence from woollen mill workers published in the Press in which it was alleged that over 60 per cent. of the trade in woollen cloth is supplied from British sources; if in recent weeks he increased the import quota for British woollen cloths, and if he will state what steps have been taken to ensure that foreign cloth of a description similar to that manufactured by the Irish mills will not be imported under the quota arrangements; and also if, having regard to the present position of the woollen industry, he will consider restricting the importation of woollen cloths to those materials that are not normally manufactured in this country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Woollen Mills.
I am not aware that at the present time there is acute unemployment in the woollen and worsted industry. I have seen the Press correspondence referred to by the Deputy. The quantity of woollen and worsted woven tissues which will be permitted to be imported under licence in the quota period from the 1st November, 1938, to the 31st May, 1939, is the same as that which was permitted to be imported in the six-monthly quota period ended on the 31st October, 1938. As regards the latter part of the question, I have endeavoured to achieve what the Deputy proposes by granting licences only, save in the most exceptional circumstances, for cloths costing less than 3/6 per square yard.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, is he aware that there are certain importers of that cloth that he gave a licence for, who have never used any Irish manufactured cloth in their articles?
I could not answer that question.
Is it a fact that people who have previously given in orders before the month of October have not yet given any orders? I understand the idea is that they will ask for a certain supply when the period is approaching and then they will not be able to get these supplies and they hope to get a licence to import a certain amount of cloth. Is that possible?
It is quite possible, but the quota has now been fixed for the period and, while I would not like to bind myself to increase the quota, I think it could be assumed that there will be no increase.
There will be no increase?
Will the Minister investigate the point raised by Deputy Hurley, that people who never used Irish cloth are actually getting a large quota?
The allocation of the quota is prescribed by law. There is very little discretion given to the Minister for Industry and Commerce. The total quota is fixed and must be distributed.
Is it a fact that some of those importers have never used Irish manufactured cloth in their establishments—I am speaking now of the ready-made clothing?
Any person is entitled to be registered on the register of importers. It does not follow that any person will get a quota for any quantity. In the distribution of the quotas regard is given to the extent to which the importer was previously engaged in the business of importing or distributing cloth and, while it is theoretically possible that people who have never purchased Irish cloth may be given a licence to import cloth, I should say it is most improbable, or that the quantity of cloth allowed would be in any sense considerable.
Will the Minister take any steps to see that a certain proportion of Irish manufactured cloth will be used in those establishments that are making ready-made clothing before they get a licence to import foreign material?
We actually restricted the total imports to the limit of the quota.
Is the quota based on what these firms did import in 1934? Is the Minister aware that so far as my information goes certain manufacturers are not using any Irish cloth because of the fact that their quota of imported cloths is sufficient for their needs?
Boycott them.