asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that a glass bottle manufacturing company enjoys a monopoly of the Irish market for bottles and that in these circumstances they are offering 6-7 oz. mineral water bottles at 22/3 per gross in Great Britain and Northern Ireland and charging 35/3 per gross in Ireland; 10 oz. white mineral water bottles at 26/6 per gross in Great Britain and Northern Ireland and charging 40/- per gross in Ireland; and half-pint beer bottles at 23/9 per gross in Great Britain and Northern Ireland and charging 32/6 per gross in Ireland; and, if so, whether he will refer this pactice to the Fair Trade Commission for inquiry and regulation, with a view to removing this unjust burden on home industry.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bottle Prices.
I am aware that the company referred to by the Deputy is the only company engaged in the manufacture of glass bottles in this country, but the company enjoys no facilities that would not be available to any other undertaking that would engage in similar activities.
An inquiry of the nature suggested in the question does not come within the scope of the functions of the Fair Trade Commission.
The affairs of the company have been the subject of inquiry by the Prices Advisory Body on a number of occasions and the prices being charged by the company on the home market are those recommended by the body.
Does the Minister seriously inform the House that he disowns responsibility for the actions of a monopoly in this country charging an Irish industry 35/3 per gross for bottles which they are selling in Great Britain at 22/3 per gross?The price in Ireland is ex-factory, and the price in England is delivered, carriage paid. Are we to be told that that is of no interest to the Minister for Industry and Commerce, that he will not cause any inquiry to be made into it, and will not take any steps to rectify that overcharge on domestic industry in order to subsidise British industry?
I have informed the Deputy that the prices charged in this country have been the subject of inquiry on a number of occasions by the Prices Advisory Body, and that the prices charged are those which that body considers to be reasonable.
I am asking the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he thinks it is reasonable to charge an Irish mineral water factory 35/3 for a gross of bottles which they are selling on the same day to a British mineral water factory at 22/3? Will the Minister take any steps to rectify that?
I have answered the question twice already.
The Minister says it is no business of this Fair Trade Commission. He says that the Prices Commission inquired into the prices on the domestic market. I am asking him now, will he inquire into a comparison between the prices charged on the domestic market and the prices charged on the British market, and take steps to ensure that an Irish monopoly do not charge Irish industry 35/3 for what they are selling to British industry at 22/3. What they are selling in Armagh at 22/3, they are selling in Monaghan at 35/3. Surely to God the House does not approve of that. Will the Minister do anything about it?
He will present you with a Union Jack.
You ridiculous little fraud.