asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether, with reference to a contract for Y cells recently placed with a foreign firm, tenders were received from Ireland; if he is aware that an Irish manufacturing firm which could have supplied the cells is working under capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Purchase of Y Cells.
44.
One Irish firm responded to the invitation to tender but was not successful in the competition. I have no information regarding this firm's working in relation to its capacity.
I would refer the Deputy for further information to my reply to his question of 15th March concerning preference for Irish goods.
Is there not something incongruous in this whole business of steadfastly conducting a Buy Irish campaign in this year which is of quite exceptional importance in the national interest and that the Government should habitually prefer to import a product, even if the Irish firm's offer was not on a strictly competitive basis? If the Government are serious about the Buy Irish campaign, surely they should set an example.
Is the Deputy saying that we should buy an Irish made article, irrespective of the price differential in the tenders?
I would suggest to the Minister that if the Government intend in this year seriously to suggest to the general public that although Government policy is progressively to reduce protective tariffs, in this year, owing to the financial mess into which you have got yourselves, it is desirable to Buy Irish to bail you out. It is fantastic for one of the men who has got us into this mess to contribute to its aggravation by buying foreign goods when goods of domestic production are available for purchase.
I would like to make it quite clear here that huge purchases are made by the Post Office in various fields. Very definite preference is always given to Irish manufactured articles. Some quantities are purchased even from the firm in question. They are fulfilling tenders right now. It would not be correct to let it get out that orders would be given to Irish manufacturers, irrespective of what the price was. A very definite preference is given in respect of Irish goods. It would not be in the interest of the firm concerned—
It was not evident before your time.
Very marked preference is given to Irish manufacturers. It would not be in the interest of the firm concerned to give the figures here. I can assure the House that a very substantial preference was given to the firm.
It did not apply to mailbags and it did not apply to advertisements for the Department of Agriculture.
You gave preference to an outside firm.
Those are separate questions.
What does not apply?
Preference to Irish manufactured goods did not apply in the case of mailbags. Your predecessor gave thousands of pounds worth of orders to a Scottish firm. He passed over an Irish firm who have since gone out of existence.
He apologised for it here.
Nobody has to apologise with regard to the case in question. The preference is still there for home-produced goods. There is the question of quality and competition.
They are not even buying Irish.
In relation to the huge amount of purchases we make, a very small quantity is purchased from foreign firms, in comparison with the home-produced goods. Every consideration is given to home produced articles. I can assure the House of that.
With an adverse trade balance of £30 million last year. You better get Deputy Burke's tin can again.