asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will outline any plans he may have to develop the publishing industry in Ireland by way of loan, grant or subsidy; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Publishing Industry.
63.
It is difficult to consider the publishing industry in Ireland in isolation; for the greater part it is related to the printing industry. In the case of the latter industry, apart from the survey which was carried out previously by the Committee on Industrial Organisation and the subsequent activities of the Industrial Reorganisation Branch of my Department, arrangements have been made for a further survey by the Committee on Industrial Progress which, as the Deputy is no doubt aware, will be placing particular emphasis on questions relating to marketability of products. When the Committee on Industrial Progress has reported on the industry I will be prepared to consider what measures may be necessary for its further development.
In the course of his researches would the Minister think it well to advise the Minister for Finance in this context the placing an effective tax of 14 per cent on the publication of newspapers is scarcely calculated to help the publishing industry?
The Deputy's supplementary is a considerable distance from the subject matter here, but I would point out to him that publishing is not a manufacturing industry, and does not come within the ordinarily accepted meaning of a manufacturing industry, except in so far as it is tied in with the printing industry.
Newspapers are printed.
I appreciate that.