asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in view of the poor quality of some children's shoes being sold, he will have a check made on them by the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Children's Shoes.
37.
I have no reason to believe that in general the quality of children's shoes made in this country is unsatisfactory.
The number of complaints being received by my Department and the institute would not call for a check as suggested. Any complainant is, of course, free to approach the institute directly.
Is the Minister satisfied that the quality of children's shoes is generally good?
From my experience of the shoes available the quality of Irish shoes is good.
That is the Minister's experience but the experience of the housewife who has to rear children and has the shoes falling from their feet——
I am married to a housewife who is rearing children.
So am I and I was rearing children before the Minister.
(Interruptions.)
The Minister mentioned the institute. Will he say what action the institute can take?
That is a separate question.
The Minister said that where there were complaints these could be brought to the attention of the institute. Will he say what action can be taken?
Since August, 1968, the institute has handled 11 complaints about children's shoes. In three of these cases the institute did not feel the complaints were justified but satisfaction was secured for the complainants in the other eight cases.
Is the Minister aware that the institute have no power to take any action?
They have had eight successes without power out of 11 cases.
Is the Minister inviting housewives to send in complaints when they have them to him or to the institute?
The object of the Deputy's question is to get publicity. Now it is publicised and so I presume that housewives or mothers will follow it up. The point is that there have been very few complaints to the Department or the institute in relation to children's shoes.
(Interruptions.)
Would the Minister make an order that shoes that are not made of leather be so marked? This is where the problem arises.
That is a completely separate question.