asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he received representations last March concerning the importation by C.I.E. of large quantities of rail wagon wheels, axles, buffers, doors and panels, a detailed list of which was supplied, and, if so, what explanation, if any, was offered by the company for the importation of material which could be manufactured or finished here at a time when many workers in the Inchicore works were being disemployed and when particular balance of trade difficulties were being experienced.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - C.I.E. Imports.
No representations of the kind referred to by the Deputy were received in March of this year. If the question refers to representations received last year I would refer the Deputy to my statement on the Estimate for my Department on the 21st April, 1955 as recorded in columns 263 and 264 of the Dáil Debates (Volume 150, No. 2).
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that in addition to the 3,556 wagon underframes which were the subject of Questions Nos. 7 to 10 on the 15th May, 1956, C.I.E. have placed orders in England and on the Continent for the manufacture and importation into Ireland of the following materials: (1) 1,500 sets of wagon body panels for open wagons, (2) 1,280 pressed steel body side panels for wagons, (3) 640 pressed steel body end panels, (4) 86 triangular wagon underframes for new coaching stock, (5) 84 self-contained buffers for main line coaches, (6) 120 self-contained buffers for brake vans and (7) 112 cast steel bogie frames, and whether his sanction was sought or obtained by the company before these orders were placed.
I understand that orders were placed by C.I.E. in England and on the Continent for the materials set out in the Deputy's question. My sanction for transactions of this nature is not required. I propose to include these items in the projected discussions with C.I.E.