asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that C.I.E. placed an order last week for 12,000 wagon buffers with a foreign firm, and, if so, whether having regard to his statement in reply to a question on 24th May, 1956, that coach buffers in cast steel could not be made in Ireland, but that wagon buffers which have a cast iron body are made at Inchicore and are not imported, although some were imported for a very short period, he will state (a) whether he was informed by the company that this order was about to be placed abroad, (b) whether these wagon buffers could not have been made and/or finished at Inchicore, and (c) whether any inquiries were made or tenders invited from Irish firms for the manufacture and/or finishing of the buffers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - C.I.E. Wagon Buffers.
I am informed by C.I.E. that no such order was placed. The other parts of the question do not, therefore, arise.