asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if his attention has been drawn to the statement of the General Manager of the Sugar Company to the effect that goods originating in other countries and merely packaged or assembled in Ireland are being pushed under the umbrella of the Buy Irish campaign and presented to the Irish public as goods of Irish origin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Buy Irish Campaign: Statement by General Manager of Sugar Company.
50.
Mr. O'Leary
The statement in question has been brought to my attention. As I indicated in my reply to a previous question by the Deputy on the subject of the Buy Irish campaign on 10th November, 1965 I have no responsibility for the personal views of the General Manager of Cómhlucht Siúicre Éireann. As the Deputy is aware, however, many of our industries providing a substantial volume of employment do not carry out the full processes of manufacture in this country. In these circumstances to insist that only goods that are manufactured in Ireland from Irish raw materials are entitled to be described as Irish would be an impracticable and unprofitable exercise. I do not, therefore, propose to take any action in the matter.