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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Feb 1969

Vol. 238 No. 7

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Polish Tyre Offer.

65.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will give details of the recent offer of trade by Poland to the Dunlop tyre company factory in Cork; and if he will state the latest position.

It is not customary to reveal details relating to the affairs of individual firms. I can, however, say that the offer from Poland was for a range of tyres of types and sizes which do not fall within the firm's rationalisation programme. The firm are, however, pursuing the possibility of obtaining orders for types of tyres and other products within their programme.

Would the Minister not agree that it is rather extraordinary that a Polish firm should offer to export into this country a type of tyres for which apparently there is no demand? Otherwise, the native firm would be making them.

That did cross my mind.

It crossed the minds of many people. Perhaps a suggestion might be made to Dunlops that they should consider this rather than giving an option to someone in Poland to send them in.

Perhaps the Deputy is looking at it from another point of view from mine. It appears to me that it might be regarded as an effort to appear to be offering business which we could not take anyway. It might be rather like our offering to sell butter to the Common Market.

I presume the Minister was pressing Poland before this to repair the imbalance of their trade. The inference from that is pretty obvious.

That is correct.

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