asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he has satisfied himself that German firms trading with Ireland are observing the conditions laid down in the trade agreement between the two countries and have Irish agents for their products.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Importations from the Continent.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that considerable quantities of goods are imported into this country from the Continent through agents living in England; and, if so, whether he will take steps to stop this practice.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 and 6 together.
I have taken advantage of every opportunity to emphasise the desirability of developing direct trade relations with other countries. With this end in view, it has been the practice in recent years, when negotiating trade agreements, to include a provision expressing the desire of each Government that commercial transactions between the two countries concerned should be conducted through persons or corporations resident in either of the two countries.
The trade agreement between this country and Germany contains such a clause. This clause, however, does not make it obligatory on German firms to appoint Irish agents for products exported to this country nor on Irish firms to appoint German agents for Irish products exported to Germany, and it would not be possible under the terms of the trade agreement to require them to do so.