asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether, in fact, the French Government is now prepared to issue licences for the importation duty free of Irish hand-woven and machine-woven tweed, and what difficulties, if any, are being experienced by exporters in regard to this trade.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Export of Tweed to France.
Under the trade agreement the French Government have agreed to issue licences permitting the importation into France of Irish hand-woven and machine-woven tweeds. It was never contemplated that there would be remission of duties on goods entering either country. I am not aware that exporters of machine-woven tweeds have had any difficulties, but I understand that exporters of hand-woven tweeds have had some difficulty in securing orders in France, mainly due to the fact of the tweeds being woven in single widths which French importers do not regard as suitable for their requirements. It is hoped that this difficulty will be overcome and that exporters of hand-woven tweeds will succeed in interesting French importers in these cloths.