asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will take steps to control the price of footwear.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Control of Footwear Prices.
36.
In a notice issued on 27th October last it was indicated that manufacturers of many commodities including footwear might not increase their prices without giving notice to me three months in advance. Subsequently, in some cases, I permitted price increases in accordance with increased cost of raw materials beyond the control of the manufacturers concerned. One such case was the footwear industry, the cost of whose main raw material, leather, is largely governed by a world market price for hides.
Could we be told how the Minister would propose to regulate the price of the footwear, when, in each year, at particular seasons, new models of shoes are taken out, with new names on them, and the old ones have gone?
This is what I have said. I have removed this control because of the variation in the cost of material.
The Minister's stabilisation order is now "bust".
Does the Deputy object?
I object to nothing, but I say that the Minister's stabilisation order has not worked in relation to anything.
Further arising out of the Minister's reply, is it not the case that there has been a huge increase in the price of footwear in the course of the past year, especially in children's footwear, and that the prices now charged are scandalous?
We had a very high level of competition in the footwear business——
Deputy Carter, who asked this question, is, no doubt, in hospital with sore feet; he is not here.
Did I understand the Minister to say that it was because of the increased cost of raw materials?
Hides.
That is part of the raw materials.
Yes.
A person can buy a pair of shoes in Belfast for something less than half the price of the same shoes in the City of Dublin. How can the Minister explain that? It is not raw material in that case.
It is a variation of prices due to changes in their raw material. I am dealing with——
It is due to racketeers in the city of Dublin. It is due to speculators in the Fianna Fáil Party.
We shall give Deputy Dowling a rest on the next question.
Hides are making a better price across the Border.
(Interruptions).
That is a separate question.
Deputy L'Estrange is absolutely correct. Hides are making a better price in the North of Ireland.
Deputy Harte should cease interrupting. He cannot monopolise the whole of Question Time.
The Minister told us——
Deputy L'Estrange should behave himself.