asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the commodities, now subject to tariff protection, in respect of which a review was undertaken in the last financial year, and if he will state the result of such investigation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tariff Reviews.
During the last year reviews were completed and reports submitted to me by the Industrial Development Authority in relation to pottery, slide fasteners, and plaster statues. Work was continued on the reviews of glass bottles and stone, and reviews were initiated in respect of cutlery, copper tubes, nails and sprigs, soap and soap powders.
In the case of pottery certain amendments of duty were made by Emergency Imposition of Duties (No. 360) (Tableware) Order, 1955. Other results of the reviews could not be stated without disclosing confidential information regarding the affairs of individual firms but it may be stated that suitable follow-up action is being taken where appropriate by my Department and the Industrial Development Authority.
The authority has also in hands reviews under Article 8 of the Anglo-Irish Trade Agreement, 1938, in relation to abrasives, breakfast cereals and files of iron and steel. In the last financial year the authority, following a review under Article 8, recommended that no change be made in the duty on textile floor coverings, and this recommendation was accepted.