asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will give particulars of the customs duties at present imposed upon radio transformers other than those used in broadcast receivers, variable condensers, and variable condensers not suitable for broadcast receivers, wire-wound resistors, and coil forms; whether these duties are for the purpose of raising revenue or encouraging manufacture; if any of these articles are at present manufactured in the country, the names of such manufacturers, if any, and whether they issue catalogues of their manufactures; and if he will state whether a duty-free licence or other concessions have been issued to certain persons importing these articles while they have been refused to others; and if so, if he will state the names of the persons to whom these licences and concessions have been issued since the 1st April, 1946, and the quantity and value of the articles imported under such licences and concessions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Duties on Wireless Parts.
I would refer the Deputy to Emergency Imposition of Duties (No. 226) Order, 1946, for particulars as to the customs duties chargeable on wireless telegraphy apparatus and parts thereof.
The duties now in operation were imposed primarily for the purpose of encouraging further development in the assembly and manufacture of wireless receiving sets and wireless components generally. Although transformers other than those used in broadcast receivers have, on occasion, been made to special order, none of the articles specified in the question is at present manufactured in the country on a commercial scale, but arrangements are being made to secure the manufacture and complete assembly of a full range of components in the near future.
The issue of duty-free licences in respect of variable condensers, wire-wound resistances and coil forms has been recommended by me to the Revenue Commissioners for use by firms engaged in an approved degree of manufacture and major assembly of wireless receiving sets. Duty-free licences are not being recommended to any person or firm in respect of radio transformers. It is not the general practice to furnish the names of the firms to whom these concessions have been granted and it is not possible, from the information in my Department, to give the quantity and value of the items mentioned which were imported under licence.