Vol. 245 No. 11
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the number of duty-free licences issued for footwear in 1967, 1968, 1969 and in the first quarter of 1970, indicating the types of footwear involved, the country of origin and the volume and value in respect of each licence, and the total; and the persons to whom such licences were issued, giving particulars as above in respect of each such person.
24.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if it is intended to proceed with the abolition of the quota restricting imports of footwear into this country; if so, when; if he will give particulars of the tariff system which will apply instead; and whether he is satisfied that there is adequate protection against dumping in the new arrangements in order to safeguard employment in the industry.
26.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether in view of the worsening employment situation in the Irish footwear industry, he will give consideration to taking action under article XIX, sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Agreement to provide for the revision of import duties, particularly since section 1 (a) and (b) cover the present position in the shoe industry.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 23, 24 and 26 together.
No import duty has been payable on leather footwear for many years. Accordingly no duty-free licences for leather footwear have been issued in the years mentioned in the question.
A statement showing types and quantities of rubber and plastic footwear for which duty-free licences have been issued in the years 1968 and 1969 will, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, be circulated with the Official Report. Figures for the year 1967 are not available. It is not the practice to give the names of the persons to whom duty-free licences are issued and my Department has no information as to the value or origin of the imports.
The Deputy is probably aware that quota licences outside the appointed quota are issued for certain special types of leather footwear. In accordance with statutory requirements a statement giving the names of recipients, the number of licences and the quantities licensed has been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas for the years 1967, 1968 and 1969.
At the request of a section of the footwear industry, quota protection on leather footwear, which was due for removal on 1st July, 1968, in accordance with arrangements made under the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement, was continued for a further period of two years with the agreement of the UK authorities and will be discontinued on 1st July, 1970. As from that date leather footwear will be subject to the following tariff rates:
|
Full |
Special Preferential |
United Kingdom |
|
54% or 9s. per pair |
36% or 6s. per pair |
22½% or 3/9d. per pair |
Article XIX of the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement is not applicable in this case as the quota has not yet been removed.
I consider that there are adequate legislative powers to deal with questions of dumping.
Following is the statement:
STATEMENT OF DUTY-FREE LICENCES ISSUED FOR THE IMPORTATION OF RUBBER AND PLASTIC FOOTWEAR
|
Golf Shoes |
Green Waders |
Rubber Riding Boots |
Industrial Plastic Sandals |
Rubber Safety Boots |
Infants' Plastic Pram Shoes (Sizes 0-3) |
Yachting Boots |
White Wellington Boots |
Over shoes and Golashes |
Hospital over shoes |
Children's Plastic Sandals |
Sports and Lumber Boots |
Soles for flip-flop sandals |
Plastic Tennis Shoes |
Shoes |
testing purposes |
|
|
1968 |
7,695 |
4,013 |
1,089 |
102 |
4,857 |
16,027 |
1,276 |
3,042 |
589 |
67,898 |
106,700 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
1969 |
15,536 |
3,596 |
3,235 |
— |
15,747 |
38,506 |
1,897 |
2,821 |
17,085 |
50,183 |
— |
18,843 |
50,000 |
12 |
1,200 |
308 |
|
Totals |
23,231 |
7,609 |
4,324 |
102 |
20,604 |
54,533 |
3,173 |
5,863 |
17,674 |
118,081 |
106,700 |
18,843 |
50,000 |
12 |
1,200 |
308 |
May I assume that the information I require in respect of the issue of duty-free licences will be made available in the tabular statement?
Yes. As I have said it is available in respect of the years 1968 and 1969. It is by chance that the figures are available for both years. Only one year's records are usually kept because they are so voluminous. They were kept for another purpose. Therefore, the figures for 1968 and 1969 are in the tabular statement but I have not got the figures for 1967.
Is the Minister aware that because of the present quota system and high tariff rate it is practically impossible for young Irish athletes to equip themselves with international standard running shoes for track and road work? I would ask the Minister whether he is aware that to allow the duty-free importation of this special type of shoe would enable our athletes to train and to compete on equal terms with international competitors? The small number of shoes involved in this would in no way affect the employment in and prosperity of the Irish shoe industry.
The principle on which such duty-free licences are issued is that if there is a reasonable substitute available made here then no duty-free licence is given. The Deputy will find it is on that principle that the duty-free licences are issued. That should meet the point the Deputy is making.
Would the Minister agree that there is growing concern about the number of licences which have been issued in recent times for the importation of various types of footwear? In the circumstances I think the Minister would agree that it is only right and proper that this back-door method should be open to public scrutiny and all the facts appertaining to it examined. The Minister must be aware of the growing anxiety in the industry about the incidence of unemployment and the closure of certain concerns——
We cannot have a speech on this. The matter has already been raised in Question No. 25.
——and anxiety in respect of other industries. Would the Minister be kind enough to meet with certain interests in the trade and particularly the union representing the employees involved at an early date so that they may convey to him the growing alarm about the situation in the industry?
It is true that anxiety has been expressed about the granting of duty-free licences but this anxiety in my view is not well-founded. The total amount of footwear imported into this country, whether under quota or under duty-free licence, is so small relative to the total consumption of footwear that it cannot be of any significance in regard to difficulties arising in the trade. Any request to meet trade unions or other representatives in connection with the trade which I receive will be dealt with by me.
The Minister must be aware of the large number of representations made in recent weeks concerning the closure of some very important industries and the threat which exists to other industries in the constituency. In the light of the fact that throughout the constituency of South Tipperary there is preferential treatment——
The Deputy cannot make a speech on this question.
——and having regard to the proximity of the industrial estate at Shannon, does the Minister not think we have an emergency of a kind in Tipperary which merits the award of State aid by way of the two-thirds grant at least to help us to resurrect these industries which are now closed and to help us to attract new ones as well?
I am aware of the difficulties to which the Deputy is referring. I am hopeful that these difficulties will be short-lived. I am not of the opinion, as of now, that the situation is such as would justify what the Deputy has suggested.
I am calling Question No. 27.
Would the Minister indicate——
I am calling Question No. 27.
If I cannot get satisfaction in this important matter there is no alternative but to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
I have allowed four supplementary questions. The Deputy should be satisfied.
I will not be put off on an important issue of this kind.
