asked the Minister for Finance whether he has received representations that grave unemployment has been created in certain industries as a result of the Emergency Imposition of Duties (No. 383) (Special Import Levies) Order, 1956; whether he has considered such representations, and, if so, what decision he has arrived at.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Import Levies.
Representations have been made on behalf of particular firms and industries about the effect of the special import levies. Official statements have been issued covering the results of the consideration of the representations in the case of the motor assembly industry, where forces other than the levy are mainly responsible for the decline in sales. It should not be overlooked that in some industries the levies have had the incidental effect of conserving and increasing employment.
The position in general has been fully explained to the public by my statements in Dáil Éireann in March and July in which I indicated the purpose of the levies (which is to restrict expenditure on less essential consumer imports) and the intention that they should be retained only as long as the balance of payments situation requires. I made it clear then and on several occasions since that if the balance of payments drain were not stopped, the country would face a situation in which, through inabaility to buy the raw materials on which our industries depend, there would be widespread shutting-down of factories and businesses, with general and heavy unemployment. The recent trade figures show an improvement in our position, but we cannot relax our efforts. An increase in production, bringing with it an increase in employment, is the most desirable way of closing the gap and of enabling us to pay for all the imports we would wish to have. Until the measures to that end, including those recently announced by the Taoiseach, are effective, imports of less essential consumption goods must continue to be restricted as this is essential to the achievement of a balance in our external payments and the preservation of national solvency.
Would the Minister say that the end of the levies is on the horizon, that it will come about in the immediate future?
The Deputy is as good a judge as I am as to where the horizon is.
It is like a lot of other horizons for the Fine Gael plans.
asked the Minister for Finance if he will remit the import levies on oranges and other citrus fruits of a high vitamin content.
I recognise the value attached to oranges and other citrus fruits as sources of vitamin C and I shall bear that in mind when circumstances permit of any relaxation in the special import levies.