asked the Taoiseach the total imports from and exports to Great Britain, (a) for the last six months of 1969 and (b) for the whole year ended 31st December, 1969.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Trade with Great Britain.
19.
Particulars of external trade with Great Britain in December, 1969, are not yet available. In the period July-November, 1969, imports from Great Britain were valued at £122.1 million while exports to that country amounted to £85.9 million. Corresponding figures for the period January-November, 1969, were £261.7 million and £176.5 million respectively.
Do the Government envisage taking any steps to increase our exports to Britain?
There are steps being constantly taken to increase exports to all parts.
We do not seem to be succeeding too well now.
May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary to repeat the last sentence again?
Corresponding figures for the period January-November, 1969 were £261.7 million and £176.5 million respectively.
Imports and exports for the 11 months?
Yes.
In view of the fact that Britain saw fit to impose restrictions on our exports in order to rectify their balance of payments problem, has the time not arrived when we should give similar treatment to Britain?
The restrictions that were imposed on our exports to Britain were overcome by the Government's action of providing money to meet the import levy in Britain so that in practice our exporters were not hindered in any way.
Yes, but we had to pay for it.
Have we not a very steady export of human beings to Britain?
Much less than when the Deputy was a Minister.
They are all going in the last 12 years since Fianna Fáil took office in 1957.