andMr. Donegan asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if excessive profits are being made by importers of motor vehicle spare parts; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Motor Vehicle Parts.
77.
I am not aware that excessive profits are being made by importers of motor vehicle spare parts, but if any specific complaints are submitted to me, I will be prepared to have them investigated.
Unofficial figures given to me indicate that the price for the windscreen of a Rover 3-litre car is £80 in Dublin whereas the same spare part in Belfast costs only £10. This represents a profit of about 700 per cent on the import of this part in Dublin. Similar figures of not quite the same magnitude, but of great magnitude, are available in relation to other spare parts.
I am not so aware. If there are specific complaints of the nature mentioned by the Deputy I shall have them investigated.
The Minister should not have to have specific complaints put before him. He is in a better position than private individuals so far as such prices are concerned.
I have had no complaints on this matter. There is already a sufficiency of complaints in the Department without going out and searching for them.
Is the root of the problem not the fact that the Minister gave various car assembly plants monopolies to import certain items such as car windscreens?
In an effort to maintain our car assembly business, the Government have come to certain arrangements. If the Deputy is suggesting that we let the car assembly business in this country go to blazes, I do not agree with him.
I did not suggest that. I am speaking of spare parts. There is something wrong with the excessive profit which is alleged in this case and particularly in the light of the Belfast profit margin for the same item.
I have had no complaints in the Department in this connection. If I have evidence of excessive charges of this nature, I shall have the matter investigated.
The Minister will appreciate that it is much more difficult for a private individual to get this information. My figures are unofficial. The Minister could get the facts himself but he does not seem anxious to do so.
I should like to be given even the unofficial figures.
Are we to take it that information given in this House by a Deputy is of no significance? We are not unaware that this House does not count for a fiddle-de-dee. Will the Minister not take action on the information Deputy Bruton has given this House?
I asked for further details. I shall be investigating the matter.
It specifies the model and the make of the car and the part of the car.
That is sufficient. I can take it from there.