asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce what benefits to this country, in terms of trade or investment opportunities, have accrued as a result of the visit of his predecessor to the Persian Gulf area last October.
47.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Trade with Persian Gulf Area.
46.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will make a statement regarding the present state of this country's commercial relations with the Persian Gulf area.
48.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce what developments affecting the prospects of Irish trade with the Persian Gulf area have occurred since the visit of his predecessor to the area in October.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 46, 47 and 48 together.
The trade mission to the Middle East in October, 1969, headed by my predecessor, visited Cyprus, the Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. As a result of the visit orders have been received by Irish firms for the supply of pneumatic and hydraulic engineering equipment, fabricated steel, electrical equipment and certain other goods. Contracts for other goods are being negotiated and there are excellent prospects for further substantial sales of Irish products in the area.
In view of the prospects for developing exports to this area, Córas Tráchtála, in conjunction with a group of firms in the technical equipment field, recently appointed a marketing representative, who is based in Kuwait and has full-time responsibility for the promotion of exports to the Middle East.
Would the Minister tell the House whether, in his opinion, Ireland's credit in this area, and in particular in the Trucial States in the Persian Gulf, has been affected in any way by the history and eventual failure of the firm known as Irish Sharjah Development, Limited?
It has not had any effect on the good name of the country.
Surely the Minister must be aware that the company in question left many thousands of pounds of unpaid debts in the Trucial States?
This appears to be a different matter and not relevant to the question.
I think I can establish its relevance to my question which affects Ireland's credit in this oil-rich area which could be of considerable importance to Ireland's future. Because of their semi-official sponsorship and because of the fact that a former Taoiseach was among the directors of the company, and later their chairman, the failure of this company necessarily compromised this country's credit in the area of the Trucial States. We should like to hear the Minister's reply to this matter.
I am not aware of the full details of the effect the Deputy claims this event has had on this country's good name. The question refers to the outcome of the visit of my predecessor to those States which, so far as I know, took place subsequent to this event——
It was not.
Yes, it was.
The point is the Minister's visit was so successful that we have had this tremendous increase in business and the various interests concerned on this side have come together with Córas Tráchtála to appoint a marketing representative which indicates a vote of confidence by those people in future trading as a result of the Minister's visit. There is no doubt whatsoever about the success of the visit.
In view of the Minister's surprising reply, I must ask him whether he is not aware that Ireland's commercial credit in the area of the Trucial States has been seriously damaged by the episode to which I have referred and by reason of the connections which this firm had and also their semi-official sponsorship? This was sponsored in part by Córas Tráchtála in the beginning.
The question I have been asked is whether I accept that crucial damage has been done to our trading——
I am referring to the Trucial States, not crucial damage.
For the Minister's information, it is the name of an area.
I am calling Question No. 49.
The Minister said that no damage was done and later he said he did not know the full effects arising from the dissolution of this firm. The Minister informs us that many orders have come as a result of his predecessor's visit; perhaps the Minister could put a figure on these wonderful results that flowed from the trip of the then Minister for Industry and Commerce, Deputy Colley?
One cannot quote an actual figure. However, it is confidently expected——
Expected?
If Deputies opposite do not want to listen that is all right with me. Córas Tráchtála estimate that in the next 12 months Irish exports to the Middle East, as a direct result of the mission, should be in the order of £250,000.
In view of the fact that the Minister was obviously unprepared for my supplementary questions on Irish Sharjah Limited, may I ask him if he will answer a specific question on this matter if I put it down?
I shall answer any question that is in order.
The Minister will give some answer at any rate.
I am calling Question No. 49.