I move motion No. 1:—
That Dáil Éireann hereby approves of:—
Control of Imports (Amendment of Quota No. 1 and Revocation of Quota No. 14) Order, 1955.
An explanatory memorandum has already been circulated to the Deputies concerning this Order.
Council of Europe. - Control of Imports Orders—Motions of Approval
Mr. Lemass
I suggest that the explanatory memorandum explains nothing and certainly gives no clue as to what the Government had in mind in combining three Quota Orders in one. It says that the combination of the three Quota Orders in one facilitates the administration of import control; but clearly it does a great deal more than that. Three separate Orders were not made merely because of some administrative arrangement. Three separate Orders were made because it was intended that there should be separate quotas fixed for three categories of cotton goods so that the importation of each category could be controlled separately. By combining the three Orders in one the Government has made it possible for an importer to use a quota licence, given in respect of one category, for another category; and this would have the effect of considerably increasing the importation of some particular class of cotton goods to the detriment of our own manufacturers. I think the Parliamentary Secretary should say to the Dáil what are the quotas at present fixed under the three Orders: and is it contemplated that a quota licence given, say, under Order No. 43, could be used at the discretion of the importer to bring in goods that are regulated under Orders Nos. 44 or 45? Clearly, the effect of combining the three Orders is to enable that to be done, and the House should get some further explanation of the need for this change other than that it is to facilitate administration. The Dáil is not concerned with facilitating administration. It is concerned in these Orders to ensure that the importation of cotton goods is regulated in a manner which will stimulate the production of these goods here.
These Orders are made to facilitate the administration of import control. Some additional changes were made in the wording of Quota No. 45 to make the Order fully effective in respect of certain cotton cloths. Does the Deputy want me to read the Order?
Mr. Lemass
I want an explanation as to why the Order was made.
The Order was made to facilitate the import of these articles, and the licences in respect of it are now of very small dimensions.
Mr. Lemass
What are they?
These changes have been agreed by the cotton mills. They have not been made without the sanction of the cotton mills. The cotton mills agreed that these changes could be brought in. If they feel they are protected, I think the House will agree that the Orders are all right.
Mr. Lemass
If the Parliamentary Secretary says that the quotas are now merely nominal quotas, that is a reasonable explanation. I can see it applying in the case of rubber tyres and tubes, where only nominal quotas are fixed. What are the current quotas under these three Orders?
I could not tell the Deputy the exact amount of the current quotas, but they are very small and would have practically no effect on home production.
I would like to call the attention of the Parliamentary Secretary to a letter which appeared in the Press last week from Mr. Declan O'Dwyer in connection with the import of these cotton goods.
That is an intelligent contribution——
It is.
That had nothing to do with cotton.
The Parliamentary Secretary knows as much about that as he does about finance.
We are talking about cotton quotas now. It is just as well for you to sit down.
I am raising the point——
You cannot raise it on this.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary try and get a sucking bottle over there for himself? Will he try and conduct himself, if he knows how? I am raising a point that this industrialist, who employs a very large number of people in my constituency and in the constituency adjoining, has written a letter pointing out——
On a point of order, the matter we are discussing is cotton quotas. That letter referred to the woollen industry.
That is hardly a point of order.
It is, Sir. I cannot see how anyone can talk on something that is not under discussion. Can I have a ruling on my point of order? Is Deputy Corry relevant on what is before the House?
Deputy Corry has not had much opportunity to make his point.
Did the Parliamentary Secretary ever hear of the Midleton cotton mill or the Youghal cotton mill? He was travelling about that constituency recently during a by-election and he ought to have learned something about it. I am making the point that this industrialist complains that over £2,000,000 worth of foreign goods were being dumped in here to the detriment of the people in my constituency. I hold that this is portion of it. I remember hearing Deputy Dillon, before he became Minister on the last round, looking for the stuff to come here at 3/9 saying that it would be for the good of the workers. I am suggesting that activities in that direction previously proved to be very bad for the workers in Midleton and Youghal when they were on three days a week for six months. I do not want to see that happen again.
Mr. O'Dwyer's letter was about woollen piece goods and not about cottons which we are referring to here.
There is a cotton industry in the town of Youghal that will be affected.
Question put and agreed to.
I move motion No. 2:—
That Dáil Éireann hereby approves of Control of Imports (Amendment of Quota No. 2 and Revocation of Quota No. 15) Order, 1955.
This Order amalgamates the Orders dealing with motor tyres and motor tubes into the one Order.
Mr. Lemass
Will the Government not go a step further now and take the tax off this?
Why?
Mr. Lemass
Because it is an imposition on the consumer.
Who put it on?
Mr. Lemass
We did, and the time has now come to take it off.
It is amazing the number of things that Deputy Lemass wants taken off now that he was unable to take off for 19 years.
Question put and agreed to.
I move motion No. 3:—
That Dáil Éireann hereby approves of Control of Imports (Amendment of Quota No. 4 and Revocation of Quota No. 29) Order, 1955.
This Order amalgamates the Orders on cycle tyres and tubes into one Order.
Mr. Lemass
This having to read the wrong speech is becoming chronic with the Government.
You are in a very bad temper this morning. There were a number of wrong speeches there from that side of the House yesterday.
Question put and agreed to.
I move motion No. 4:—
That Dáil Éireann hereby approves of Control of imports (Amendment of Quota No. 45 and Revocation of Quotas Nos. 43 and 44) Order, 1955.
This Order deals with rubber heel shoes and other rubber footwear and it amalgamates previous Orders into one.
Mr. Lemass
I take it that these are all only nominal quotas?
That is all.
Question put and agreed to.
I move motion No. 5:—
That Dáil Éireann hereby approves of Control of Imports (Revocation of Quotas Nos. 26 and 27 and Amendment of Quota No. 28) Order, 1956.
Heretofore there were three separate Quota Orders relating to domestic brushes, toilet brushes and miscellaneous brushes. The effect of this Order is to bring all these brushes within the scope of one Order, i.e., Quota Order No. 28.
Question put and agreed to.
I move motion No. 6:—
That Dáil Éireann hereby approves of Control of Imports (Quota No. 6) (Personal Clothing) (Amendment) Order, 1955.
Quota No. 6 restricts imports of rubber proofed garments (including partially manufactured garments) and component parts thereof. Component parts of garments and partially manufactured garments made from material other than rubber proofed material were not subject to quota control. Representations were made by the woollen mills and by the manufacturers of ladies' garments that quantities of cloth were being imported in the form of semi-finished garments or in pieces cut to pattern, and that such imports were designed to evade the restrictions imposed on woven, woollen and worsted material by Quota No. 13. The Amending Order brought these articles within the scope of Quota No. 6.
Question put and agreed to.