asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the extent to which Ireland's tariff barriers will be affected by accession to GATT.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Accession to GATT.
21.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to a similar question on this matter on 24th May, 1967.
Would the Minister care to give me the substance of that reply again?
The substance of the reply was that because our negotiations for accession to GATT are in progress, I was not in a position to make any useful statement on the matter.
Would the Minister not agree that as we are negotiating, it would be of advantage to all concerned if we had some idea beforehand as to what extent our tariffs will have to be lowered?
The Deputy overlooks the fact that the Minister is not prosecuting GATT, only trying to join it.
The Deputy will be aware of the fact that we are at present negotiating for entry to GATT. The negotiations involve our taking a certain position and as the negotiations proceed, we may have to change our position in certain respects. It is not possible for me to make any useful statement at this moment as to what the final result will be when we are still negotiating. I should think that would be obvious.
Surely the Minister accepts the fact that we are bound by certain rules by acceding to GATT?
Yes.
They are not going to make new rules for this country. There are certain binding rules, such as the most favoured nation clause, which will affect us to some extent.
Yes, but it is not possible for me to give any worthwhile information as to what the effect of our joining will be when we do not know. As I said, in various areas we are still negotiating.