asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether it is correct that boot manufacturers now find it cheaper to buy foreign leather and pay the duty thereon than to buy the home-tanned varieties; and, if so, what he proposes to do to the mutual satisfaction of the man in the street and the tannery trade.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Home-tanned Leather.
It has been represented to me that, as a consequence of the depressed state of the leather market abroad, it is now possible in certain cases to import leather, duty paid, at prices below the current Irish prices for similar leather. This matter is under consideration by me as part of a general examination of the present position of the tanning industry.
Is the Minister aware there is now a surplus of raw hides in the country which is giving rise to considerable difficulties for those who purchase them and will he in those circumstances consider decontrolling the market for hides and allowing the export of such as are not required for the domestic leather industry?
I am aware that, "thanks to careful stockpiling," there was a rather high stock of high-priced hides in the country. The Minister has the matter under review at present.
The Minister knows sweet Fanny Adams about it, obviously, or he would realise that as regards the development of the dead meat trade—
Is this a speech or a question?
——the supply is substantially greater than it was heretofore. In the light of that situation, will the Minister consider taking steps which his colleague the Minister for Agriculture ought to have made him take some time ago, that is, to release for sale in the same market as the meat is sold in the hides we flay off.
The Deputy can be sure that everything possible is being done to rectify the mess he left.
Blatherskite.
Is the Minister aware that higher prices are being paid abroad for hides than are being paid here and consequently an export trade could be developed?