asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware (a) that Messrs. Irish Tanners' Factory, at Portlaw, County Waterford, is on a five-day week of 40 hours for some time owing to a continued shortage of hides which has compelled the management to reduce production; (b) that this shortage is due to foreign hides being in short supply and, with the return of conditions in the cattle trade approximating to pre-war times, to large numbers of store cattle leaving the country alive; and, if so, whether he will endeavour to come to some arrangement with the British authorities whereby hides of Irish cattle will be made available to meet the requirements of the Irish tanners.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shortage of Hides.
Though I am aware that there is a shortage at present of the hides suitable for the production of a particular class of leather, I am not aware that there is any overall shortage of hides which has compelled Irish Tanners, Ltd., to reduce production of leather. On the contrary, I have been told that the reduction in output is due to a falling-off in the demand for leather by footwear manufacturers and others. The footwear manufacturers have made representations to me about difficulty in disposing of their output of footwear, and I am having the whole position examined at present. In the meantime I have promised that facilities will be granted to Irish Tanners, Limited, to enable them to export surplus leather they have on hands. The matter to which the Deputy refers in the latter part of his question will be examined.
Will the Minister say, arising out of his answer, whether he has obtained similar facilities for footwear manufacturers to export surpluses which they have in hand due to the operation of Orders in regard to the import of footwear?
That is another matter, I am afraid.