asked the Taoiseach if he will state the principal categories of commodities the prices of which he stated, during his address at the Dublin Chamber of Commerce dinner on 13th November last, were too high.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Commodity Prices.
I would invite the Deputy's attention to the context in which I made the statement to which his question refers. I said that industry could best discharge its responsibility to the community by granting the consuming public a reasonable share of the benefits of the increased productivity which has been a feature of the Irish industrial economy in recent years. I also said that, at the present time, when the protected sector of the industrial economy is more prosperous than ever before, the industrialist enjoying protection should spare no effort to reduce, and should neglect no opportunity of reducing, prices. In my statement I deliberately refrained from specifying individual commodities or categories of commodities. I endeavoured, rather, to indicate in general terms the scope which unquestionably exists for co-operation by all sections of the community in all efforts to secure reasonable levels of prices.
Does the Taoiseach agree that there are categories of commodities, the prices of which are too high?
I may have my own opinion and I have my own opinion on the subject but, unlike the Deputy, I may be wrong. We propose to have the whole matter investigated by a public inquiry in the near future.
Did the Taoiseach say in his speech that there are categories of commodities, the prices of which are too high?
I did say that, but I refer the Deputy to the context in which it was stated.
asked the Taoiseach if he will indicate the commodities which have increased in price during recent months, to which he referred in his speech at the Dublin Chamber of Commerce dinner on 13th November last, and the actual increase in each case.
Between September, 1949, and September, 1950, Irish import prices increased generally by 15.8 per cent. During the same period the following percentage increases occurred in the wholesale prices of certain commodity groups:—
(1) Food, drink and tobacco, 2.8 per cent.
(2) Mine and quarry products, 1.2 per cent.
(3) Metals and manufactures, 2.2 per cent.
(4) Textiles and apparel, 37.5 per cent.
(5) Hide, skins and manufactures, 12.7 per cent.
(6) Rubber and manufactures, 31.2 per cent.
(7) Chemicals, etc., 1.6 per cent.
The increase over the period in wholesale prices generally was 7.2 per cent.
From mid-August, 1949, to mid-August, 1950, the following percentage increases occurred in certain of the groups comprising the interim cost-ofliving index (essential items):—
(1) Clothing, 9 per cent.
(2) Fuel and light, 3 per cent.
The index figure for all items, however, remained unchanged over that period.