asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether there has been any change in the Government's general policy for the annual reduction in tariff rates on all goods.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Reductions in Tariffs and Import Duties.
15.
There has been no change in the policy announced by the Government for the reduction of protective tariffs on industrial products.
16.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce what reductions have been made since July 1961 to date in the import duties and tariffs affecting goods imported into this country; and what effect, if any, such reductions have had on (a) the price of such imported goods as sold in this country and (b) the amount of such goods imported into this country.
There have been two general reductions of 10 per cent in industrial protective tariffs, the first effective from the 1st January, 1963, and the second from the 1st January, 1964. In addition, the tariffs on a number of commodities have been reduced following a review carried out by the Industrial Development Authority under the terms of the Anglo-Irish Trade Agreement.
The volume and price level of imported commodities are capable of being influenced by factors other than tariff reductions, and I regret, therefore, that it is not possible to furnish the information sought in the concluding part of the Deputy's question.
17.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether it is intended to make further decreases in tariffs and import duties on goods imported into this country during 1964; and whether any estimate has been made as to the likely effect of such decreases on (a) prices and (b) amounts imported.
It is not proposed to make a further general reduction in industrial tariffs during the present year.