asked the Minister for Finance whether he will grant applications for Swiss currency to manufacturers of ready-made clothing who want to import silk or rayon linings with which to finish garments manufactured from woollen textiles.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Applications for Swiss Currency.
Since 1943 Swiss francs have been made available for imports of silk and rayon materials from Switzerland very substantially in excess of pre-war imports of such materials from that country. A further allocation of Swiss francs for this purpose is at present under consideration.
Is the Minister aware that several ready-made manufacturers in this country have had to send out their cloth unlined because they could not get silk linings in Great Britain or the United States of America, and could not get currency to purchase them in Switzerland? Is he aware that the Department refused currency to buy 12 pieces of art silk lining for the manufacture of ladies' cloth in Dublin? At the same time did it not grant currency to a group of gentlemen to bring in Swiss watches far in excess of the total requirements of this State? Does he propose to repeat that or to allow legitimate industry to get in its legitimate requirements?
As far as Switzerland is concerned, in 1938 less that £2,000 worth was imported from that country, and last year £193,000 worth, or 100 times more.
Is the Minister aware that in the year to which he refers Switzerland was the sole source of supply, and that in the years before the war few, if any, firms bought silks in Switzerland? They all bought in England, France and the United States of America, three sources from which no supplies are now available. Will the Minister ensure that in future these gentlemen will not be given facilities to bring in unlimited supplies of Swiss watches?
That is not true.
That has nothing to do with this question.
That I should not refer to the granting of facilities to other firms?
Not when there is a reflection on these firms.
I am referring to the result of a trial by a competent court of jurisdiction.
That decision does not arise. It is not sent up for decision here.
If frances are given to these gentlemen why not give them to legitimate manufacturers?