asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is yet in a position to make a statement concerning the setting up of an export corporation for the promotion of exports.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Promotion of Exports.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the functions assigned to the Dollar Export Board, what financial assistance is to be provided or other facilities, if it is the intention of the board to trade directly, what is the statutory authority under which the board has been set up, and, if no statutory authority exists, whether it is his intention to introduce proposals for legislation to this effect.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 60 together.
As Deputies will have seen from the newspapers, the Government has decided to establish a company to be known as Córas Tráchtála Teo. to promote exports to the dollar area. The first directors of the company have already been nominated. The objective of the company will be to place at the disposal of exporters a comprehensive service which will assist them to market their goods successfully in the dollar area. The precise methods to be followed in doing so will be primarily a matter for the company and all necessary functions are being entrusted to them for this purpose. These functions will include the development of outlets in the dollar area for Irish goods; the conduct of market surveys for Irish goods; the supply of information to Irish exporters about outlets for their goods in the dollar area, and to importers in the dollar area about Irish products; advising on methods of salesmanship, packaging and design, and on shipping and transport facilities; the procurement of information on the credit standing of dollar-area importers; the organisation of collective efforts to develop exports to the dollar area and the promotion of participation by Irish exporters in international trade fairs.
Córas Tráchtála Teo. may also be authorised to import and export, buy and sell in its own name or as agent for others, subject to the consent of the Minister for Industry and Commerce after consultation with the Minister for Finance. It is not intended that the company should, for the present at any rate, concern itself with exports other than exports to the dollar area.
Córas Tráchtála Teo. is not being established under statutory authority. No statutory authority is necessary for the purpose, and it is not my intention to introduce proposals for legislation in this connection.
Córas Tráchtála Teo. will be financed by grant-in-aid. There is provision under sub-head (8) of the Estimate for Industry and Commerce for the year 1951-52 for an initial grant-in-aid of £10,000 for the company.
The Economic Co-operation Administration of the United States has approved proposals for technical assistance for Córas Tráchtála Teo. which provide for:—
(a) the assignment to the new company of two United States experts for one year each, to advise on organisation and operation, and to undertake a survey of potential Irish dollar exports;
(b) the carrying out of short-run market surveys in the United States for projects selected by the two experts, and the provision of expert advice on specific problems arising;
(c) comprehensive market surveys for four Irish products, viz., woollen and worsted fabrics (millwoven); stout, porter and ale; processed meat and meat products; and one other product to be selected;
(d) the provision of United States experts to evaluate the various market surveys and to advise on problems of expanding and cheapening production arising as a result.
Arrangements for the implementation of this assistance are in train.
May I compliment the Minister on implementing this project and ask him if he does not consider that more representation should be given on the board to business people, people with business experience, rather than civil servants? There is a preponderance of civil servants on the board, I think.
I think it is desirable to establish the board with a limited number at the beginning but I have informed the board that if they consider their usefulness would be increased by any addition to their number, I would be prepared to consider it.