asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether licences to import free of duty will be made available to import tubeless tyres for motor cars in order to minimise risks of accidents arising from blowouts.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Import of Tubeless Tyres.
The issue of duty-free licences is not recommended for imports of tyres which are, in the opinion of the Revenue Commissioners, suitable for use on motor cars and I am not prepared to make an exception in respect of tyres of the kind referred to in the question.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, has he any reason to believe that this kind of tyre will be manufactured in this country at an early date?
Well, I understand some experimental work is in progress.
The Minister is aware that these tyres are in pretty general usage abroad and widely advertised in Great Britain and the United States and as they constitute a very valuable safeguard against accidents on the road will the Minister say that until they are produced here licences will be granted to make them available to the Irish public?
The duty is a revenue duty. It has always been in force and consequently no exceptions can be made, and whether these tyres will be successful or not is not quite clear.
Is it not possible to have them made in Cork?
If it is possible, I would be grateful to the Minister to indicate where they can be got. So far as I know, no tubeless tyres are available in this country. If they are, well and good, but if they are not, pending their introduction, I would suggest the Minister would consider allowing their importation.
They are doing tyres in Cork, all right, at the moment.