asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will indicate the matters which were recently discussed by him with the President of the British Board of Trade; and if he will make a statement on the matters discussed.
55.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cotton Yarns: Discussions with British Board of Trade.
54.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if any restrictions have recently been imposed by the British Board of Trade on imports of cotton yarn or other materials manufactured from cotton; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 54 and 55 together.
The object of my recent visit to London was to discuss with the President of the Board of Trade a proposal made by the Board for a temporary limitation of exports of cotton yarn from this country. I also discussed with the President of the Board of Trade the situation resulting from the application of the British duties on man-made fibres to textile products manufactured here and exported to Britain. Negotiations are still proceeding in relation to these matters and I am not in a position to make a statement at the present time.
Could the Minister say when he would hope to make a statement on the matters discussed?
In respect of the first matter, I expect the situation will have clarified within a week or so.
Does "clarified" mean settled satisfactorily?
We are never satisfied.
I am concerned with the word "clarified" at the moment.
What about the second question?
I do not know if I can get a satisfactory conclusion in a short time but I shall keep pressing.
Is the Minister aware that in connection with the factory in Sligo, unless he takes up a strong position in this matter, there is no hope of that factory reopening?
I am afraid a strong position taken by me may not help the Sligo factory. It depends on the extent to which the negotiations are successful. May I say, in order that I shall leave nobody in any doubt, that the level of exports likely to result from the present negotiations may not be such as to justify the retention of cotton yarns manufacture at the Sligo factory.
Surely if grants are made available for the setting up of industries of this nature in Sligo, the Minister and the body responsible for issuing grants took into consideration the possible impact on the work of this factory of the terms of restriction likely to be imposed by the British Government?
New situations arise and different countries are affected by outside economic influences. This is one I had not anticipated.
Can the Minister say if a restriction of this sort is a breach of the Trade Agreement?
I believe it is not.