I move to delete reference No. 3.
Imposition of Duties (Confirmation of Orders) (No. 2) Bill, 1939—Committee and Final Stages.
Sections 1 and 2 agreed to.
Question proposed: "That the Schedule stand part of the Bill."
I ask the Deputy not to persist with the amendment and, at least, not to divide the House upon it. I will undertake to inquire into the statements which he has made in regard to this industry, but I should say, first, that I understand that those who are engaged in it have to comply with the requirements of the Department of Local Government and do, in fact, so comply. In addition, I should say that there are 55 workers employed in one of the industries at the main branch of the work at Castlebellingham, and ten others are engaged in the sterilising end in Dublin. It may be that a certain element of prejudice may enter into these things. Naturally, surgeons who have relied for a long time upon the satisfactory products of other manufacturers may not be disposed readily to change, but I think Deputy Cosgrave will agree that it may sometimes be necessary to induce surgeons to look at the products of alternative manufacturers, particularly when made in this country, to try to get them to overcome what may be, perhaps, more the result of settled habit and practice rather than judicial decision as to investigation of the merits of one or other of these products. I asked, when this was called to my attention, whether representations had been made by any of the professional bodies in regard to the use of these surgical sutures and ligatures and, so far as I am aware, and I speak now subject to the fact that I have not full information before me, I do not think any such representations have been made. If they have been made I undertake to look into the matter to see whether, in fact, the requirements of the medical profession are being fulfilled by the manufacturers.
I will give the date. They were made some time after the imposition of duties.
I undertake to look for the papers, and if the Deputy will let it go now I will have an amendment put down.
I will let it go. I do not think there is prohibition on the importation of cat-gut.
No.
It simply means an increase in price.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
Arising out of Reference No. 7, is the Minister in a position to offer any satisfactory explanation why the duty on soap should be as high as it is made by the Emergency Imposition of Duties Order? I think it is well-known that the rate of duty, in actual fact, represents the difference in price between the home product and the imported product. In other words, the charge on the home product is nearly as high as that on the imported product, plus the duty. That seems appalling. Admittedly the production here must be smaller but, after allowing for that, there does not seem to be any justification for such a big difference in price as 50 per cent. I say that if this material, and other materials, were reduced in price, there would be lower prices for laundry work, which would result in a greater amount of employment being given. I should like to know if the Minister has anything to say why the duty is so high. I know that this was done on the advice of the Prices Commission, but I hope he will not try to be bound by that.
Of course I am. That is the only explanation I can give, that the Prices Commission investigated and recommended that this duty was just sufficient to protect our home industry.
In other words that prices charged here were to be the same as for the imported articles. Will this report of the Prices Commission be made available?
I do not think so. These investigations are not published.
So the position is that the Prices Commission make a recommendation, and no one knows on what ground, but on that the Minister acts without considering that there might be reasons why it might or might not be agreed to. Is it not correct to say that the duty of 50 per cent. was so advised?
That is so.
Question put and agreed to.
Bill reported without amendment.
Bill received for final consideration and passed.
This is a Money Bill within the meaning of Article 22 of the Constitution, and is so certified by the Ceann Comhairle.