andMr. McQuillan asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the names of the firms to which he recently referred as being ready for the partial or total removal of tariffs.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Common Market: Removal of Tariffs.
38.
I presume the Deputies are referring to my speech at a recent function of the Federation of Irish Industries. What I said was that the Committee on Industrial Organisation is carrying out a comprehensive survey of the industrial sector directed towards industrial reorganisation in the context of the Common Market and that the surveys would bring to light facts in particular and facts in general about our industrial set up. I expressed the view that we should, no doubt, be told by the Committee that some industries are strong and that the Common Market could provide them with the opportunity for which they have been preparing; that others will be shown to be not so strong but to have been making real efforts to improve their viability and to be likely to use the balance of the transitional period to good advantage; that there may be some whose future is not good despite genuine efforts on their part but which would be deserving of Government help; and that there would be likely to be others which would be shown to have sheltered behind protection without attempting to make themselves more competitive and for whom no sympathy need be expected from the Government. To any such I made an exhortation that they should try to re-adapt themselves while there is still time.
This was my forecast of the general picture that may emerge from the surveys when they have been completed.
Has the Minister any idea when the surveys will be available?
They will be available over a period of months as they are completed by the working parties and submitted to the Committee.
Will they be made available to the Dáil for further consideration?
Likely not. They refer to individual firms.
Do they not refer to individual classes of industries?
In some cases, yes.
In cases where they do refer to individual classes of industries will the Minister make them publicly available, where they could not be identified as affecting individual firms?
I do not think I could give that undertaking. I have not seen any of these reports yet. They are not yet completed. I do not know to what extent they will be recommendations that ought not to be disclosed in the interest of those concerned.
Will the Minister, when he gets these reports, give consideration to whether they should be disclosed or not?
I think it should be made quite clear that it is most unlikely they will be published. The value of these reports depends on the willingness of individual firms to give confidential information for them. While a general report based on all the reports may be published, the individual reports are not likely to be published.
I can appreciate the concern of the Minister and the Taoiseach in this matter. I would not like to say whether or not it is desirable to do as Deputy Sweetman suggests. The Taoiseach and the Minister for Industry and Commerce must appreciate that when tariffs have been applied over the years, it is quite easy to identify the firms to whom the tariff is applied.
I think Deputies can assume there will be a comprehensive analysis of the individual reports at some stage——
That is what we want.
——but that the individual reports will not be published.
Certainly not in any individual industry.
Is the Minister able to say if we will be given information so as to know what the likely economic consequences will be?
General information will be given but the Deputy will appreciate that particular information cannot be given.
39.
andMr. McQuillan asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether the survey carried out by him into the number or type of firms which are unlikely to survive the removal of tariff barriers in the Common Market is available.
I assume that the question refers to the examination of the industrial sector which is being carried out under the aegis of the Committee on Industrial Organisation. Working teams have been appointed by the committee to survey individual industries, and I understand that in the case of certain industries the surveys are well advanced.
Will we get any special information in regard to that?
Only in so far as a general picture will emerge to enable the Dáil to appreciate the overall economic position.