asked the Minister for Health if he will indicate to all public health authorities that they should purchase their agricultural implements from Irish foundries rather than from foreign sources.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Purchase of Agricultural Implements.
I have no power to compel local authorities to purchase their requirements from any particular source, but all health and mental hospital authorities are encouraged as a matter of national policy to purchase the maximum amount of their requirements, including agricultural implements, from Irish manufacturers. In addition, tariff protection is afforded to Irish manufacturers of agricultural implements and it is open to them, either directly or through their distributors, to tender for the inclusion of their products on the official list of contractors and suppliers maintained by the Department of Local Government in connection with the Local Authorities (Combined Purchasing) Scheme.
Is the Minister aware that recently a local authority advertised for a foreign made plough and that there was no reference in the advertisement to the effect that tenders would be received from Irish firms making the same ploughs?
I am not so aware but if the Deputy sends me particulars I can have it looked into.