Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 5 Jul 1960

Vol. 183 No. 7

Committee on Finance. - Control of Imports (Quota No. 45) (Amendment) Order, 1960—Motion of Approval.

Minister for Industry and Commerce (Mr. J. Lynch)

I move:—

That Dáil Éireann hereby approves of:—

Control of Imports (Quota No. 45) (Cotton Piece Goods) (Amendment) Order, 1960.

This is a Quota Order amending the Control of Imports (Quota No. 45) 1949. That Order appointed quotas for woven cotton piece goods and general exemptions for cloths less than 12 inches in width and having two selvedges. The exemption was designed primarily to admit for import woven cotton piece goods which included machinery belting, tapes and other such piece-goods not made in this country.

The purpose of this Order is to exempt from the quota cotton towelling of 12 inches or less in width. The towelling involved is the type one sees in hotels, offices and other public buildings. Hitherto, that type of towelling was in widths of 18 inches and in lengths of about three yards and used on rollers. The trend nowadays is to use towelling of a much smaller width, 12 inches or less, which is used in lengths of about 56 yards from cabinets which is a much more hygienic method of operation.

Up to quite lately the home mills were not in a position to produce such towelling but they now are. Their capacity, I believe, is sufficient to produce our full requirements of such towelling. The purpose of the Order is explained in the explanatory memorandum which has been circulated and which embodies what I have just said. I commend the Order to the House.

Mr. Cosgrave

Is there any likely change in the price of the towelling as a result of the proposed Order? Can the Minister say how many firms are engaged in the manufacture of such towelling here? Furthermore, can the Minister tell the House the number of persons employed specifically on this business?

Mr. J. Lynch

The prices will remain the same as hitherto. They will be slightly in excess of the imported article largely because the imported article is made by firms who can concentrate on its manufacture and who therefore would have a longer and more economic run. Three firms in this country are engaged in the manufacture of this type of towelling. They are (1) Robert Usher and Company, Limited, Drogheda; (2) the Greenmount and Boyne Linen Company, Limited, and (3) Charles Gallen and Company, Limited, Balbriggan. I am informed that about 40 people are engaged between the three firms in the manufacture of this type of towelling.

I cannot say specifically how many of the 40 persons would be engaged in the manufacture of towelling of 12 inches or less but unless this exemption is removed the employment of these 40 persons will be affected by reason of imports of quantities of similar width towelling.

Question put and agreed to.