Vol. 198 No. 1
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that the recent order greatly increasing the duties on knitted synthetic fabrics, such as nylon, will operate to give a complete monopoly to mills which are unable to supply full trade requirements; and if he will consider rescinding the order, particularly in view of Ireland's proposed entry into the Common Market when duties such as these will in any case be required to be abolished.
27.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce what steps he proposes to take to avert the close-down of factories using nylon fabrics as raw material, which can result from the greatly increased duties on such material.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 26 and 27 together. The recent increase in the import duties on knitted synthetic fabrics was necessary to protect the Irish manufacturers of these fabrics against imported materials which were being landed at dumped prices. The question of removing or reducing the duty does not arise at present. The action to be taken in relation to Customs duties generally (including this duty) on the occasion of our entry into the Common Market will be determined by the terms and conditions on which our application for membership is accepted.
Representations have been made to me recently, on behalf of a number of factories which use the fabrics in question as a raw material, concerning the range and specifications of the materials available from the Irish mills. I am having these representations examined as a matter of urgency with a view to ascertaining whether the complaints are well founded.
Is it not strange that while we talk about reducing tariffs, in this case we have jumped them from 37½ per cent. to 85 per cent., and to 100 per cent. in some cases? It seems to be contrary to our public statements about what we propose to do. That is the objection these manufacturers have.
We always take steps to protect our factories against dumped goods and we hope to continue to take effective steps in our dealings with these matters when we enter the Common Market.
It is not fair to these people.
28.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that factories using nylon fabrics as raw material have binding contracts with foreign suppliers; and whether he will issue licences to enable such factories to import materials contracted for at the rate of duty existing before the recent order greatly increasing this duty.
I understand from representations which have been made to me that there are firms with contractual obligations for the purchase of certain foreign knitted synthetic fabrics.
The increased duty in this case is intended to prevent the large-scale importation of low priced fabrics. Its purpose would be defeated if licences were now given for the importation of any substantial quantity of these fabrics at the old rates of duty.
While the position is as stated, I am prepared to have applications from individual firms affected examined.
In so far as the last part of the Minister's reply is concerned, I am satisfied. I understand there is a large amount of stuff at the North Wall awaiting the Christmas trade and I would ask the Minister to regard this as an urgent matter.
I have stated that in my answer.
I am satisfied.
