asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will indicate the list of products to be exhibited in the Irish National Pavilion at the current International Trade Fair in Frankfurt.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Frankfurt Trade Fair.
A statement by the Government Information Bureau giving a list of products to be exhibited in the Irish National Pavilion at the current International Trade Fair in Frankfurt was broadcast by Radio Éireann on the 1st March and published in the daily Press of the 2nd and 3rd March. The list of products is as follows:—
Meat, eggs, poultry, dairy and miscellaneous agricultural products, footwear, handwoven tweed scarves, ties and stoles, leather, woollen piece-goods, hand-embroidered linen, briar smoking pipes, cigar and cigarette tubes, beer, assorted chocolate and sugar confectionery, and lead crystal cut glassware.
Could the Minister indicate to the House whether the distillers have taken any steps to exhibit Irish whiskey, in view of the importance of this industry to our economy generally? Have they taken any steps to exhibit that famous product at that fair?
I was not asked that question. I was asked for a list of the commodities it was proposed to exhibit and I have furnished that list to the Deputy.
Is it not a fact that whiskey is missing from that list?
That is true, and so are many other commodities; but these are the firms who decided they would exhibit their commodities.
Would the Minister not agree that it shows a deplorable lack of initiative on the part of the distillers not to exhibit whiskey at that fair? It is time that some action was taken about them.