asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will indicate the number of agricultural forks imported into this country in each of the years 1948, 1949, 1950 and 1951 to date and whether, in view of the fact that home manufacturers are unable to dispose of their stocks and as plentiful supplies of raw materials are available, he will take immediate steps to prevent further imports and thereby avoid further unemployment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Imports of Agricultural Forks.
The number of agricultural forks imported in each of the years referred to by the Deputy was as follows:—
|
Year |
Number |
|
|
1948 |
8,259 |
|
|
1949 |
29,422 |
|
|
1950 |
57,383 |
|
|
January-September |
1951 |
145,530 |
I have had these imports under consideration, but I cannot now say what attitude the Government will adopt in the matter. The Deputy will appreciate that agricultural interests must be considered as well as the interests of manufacturers.
Will the Minister not agree that, when the raw materials and the employees are available, it is unfair to treat this trade in this fashion—to leave them without any protection and have our people unemployed while Germans are working at the manufacture of these forks?
The increase in imports in recent years has been quite significant, and, as I told the Deputy, the matter is under consideration; but he will appreciate as well as I do that any action on which the Government may decide might have repercussions of an undesirable kind.
If these manufacturers are to continue manufacturing for the coming season, they will have to get extra stocks in and they are in the position that they do not know whether they should try to procure these extra stocks of raw materials or not. Will the Minister treat the matter as urgent?
I should point out to the Deputy that, even though there has been this increase in imports, the number of these commodities produced at home was, to the end of 1950, substantially in excess of the number imported.