Vol. 208 No. 10
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce what have been the recent changes in the position with regard to duty charged by the British authorities on Irish carpets containing a proportion of man-made fibre exported to Britain; and whether any similar improvement in the duty position may be extended in the near future to woollen cloth containing a small proportion of man-made fibre generally.
38.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that duty is charged by the British authorities on Irish woollen cloth containing any proportion, however small, of man-made fibre exported to Britain, whereas woollen cloth imported into Ireland from Britain is subject only to quota control with no reference to the man-made fibre content; and whether he will initiate negotiations with the British authorities with a view to having this duty remitted.
I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 37 and 38 together.
Under a recent amendment of the British customs tariff, garments and certain other textile goods, including carpets, containing not more than 5 per cent by value of man-made fibre may now be imported free of duty into Britain if they are of Irish manufacture. The customs duties applicable to woollen cloth and other textile goods containing man-made fibres have not, however, been modified. Negotiations are continuing with the British Government with a view to securing the removal of the man-made fibre duties from other textile products, including woollen cloth, of Irish manufacture.
Did the Minister say negotiations are at present in progress?
Yes, ever since 1960, and no opportunity has been lost of bringing this matter before the British Government and seeking a solution.
There are no discussions going on at the present time and no likelihood of any improvement in the situation as far as woollen cloth is concerned in the near future?
I cannot say what the likelihood is but as regards discussions being active, they are indeed active at the moment and we hope to avail of the next opportunity, when officials of the two Governments get together to discuss matters of trade, to raise the matter again.
Is the Minister optimistic?
I am always optimistic.
