asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will confirm that a new CIE shed at the North Wall was built of pre-fabricated British imported steel; and if he will comment on the matter in view of the Buy Irish campaign.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Use of Imported Steel in CIE Shed.
22.
I am informed by CIE that due to the fact that the reconstruction of premises at North Wall had to be carried out without interruption of normal business, it was necessary, in order to cause the minimum upset, to choose a type of shed, the materials for which and the erection thereof could be completed in the shortest possible time.
In these circumstances, the order was placed with a British firm which manufactures standard pre-fabricated steel units, which are capable of speedy erection.
Would the Minister say if the same situation existed in Mallow?
I cannot inform the Deputy.
The Minister opened the place.
It is perfectly evident that State companies have occasionally to purchase foreign materials or equipment. I can also assure the House once more that we have had discussions with all the State companies, we have circularised them, we have discussed the matter with them, and they are taking the view that where they can purchase Irish materials or equipment, they will do so.
Very kind of them.
But, as the House is aware, there must be some limit in regard to the differential in cost. The State companies do not automatically purchase Irish materials and equipment if the cost enormously exceeds that of what can be purchased abroad, but they have been taking a most liberal point of view and percentage differences between foreign- and Irish-made have been extended ever since the balance of payments difficulties which we have experienced arose and everything is being done to encourage the use of Irish-manufactured goods among State companies. I can say that without fear of contradiction. There are always bound to be some exceptions. In this particular case, this steel fabric was, in fact, ordered in May, 1964, before the crisis became apparent and so the directions given to State companies in regard to the use of Irish materials and equipment did not actually apply to this particular transaction.
Is the Minister aware that on the date in question, or so we are led to believe at any rate, officials of his Department did not even know what type of iron was in the building and they could not answer the question as to why it was put in there. Everybody knew it was made in England.
There are 186 men walking the streets of Cobh today for lack of orders for corrugated iron while CIE is spending our money on foreign imports.
(Interruptions.)
Is it to be taken from the Minister's last reply that it was necessary for the Minister and his Department to issue a directive to State companies to buy Irish goods?
No, the Deputy has completely misunderstood me.
I do not want to misunderstand the Minister.
I was talking about what happened when we began to face particular balance of payments difficulties. State companies already had given a measure of preference to Irish materials and equipment, and we asked them to give an additional measure of preference and to try to see whether, during this period, goods which were not already manufactured here could be manufactured and advise them that they should go out to firms which normally were unable to make what they required and ask them: "Can you make them now? Even though the price may be a little more than we would normally pay in normal circumstances, we should like to see at what price you can furnish these materials and equipment". I hope I have given the House the full picture of what was involved in our meeting State companies and giving the same kind of directive. I might add that Irish Steel Holdings do not manufacture pre-fabricated units.
(Interruptions.)
Arising further out of the Minister's reply——
I am calling Question No. 23. The supplementaries on this question have gone on too long.
May I ask the Minister does he not regard it——
I am not allowing any more supplementaries on this. Question No. 23.
With your permission, Sir——
If I allow one, I shall have to allow everybody. Question No. 23, to the Minister for Finance.
He is not prepared to buy Irish. He will sell out to the British.
(Interruptions.)
I am calling Question No. 23, to the Minister for Finance.