asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will introduce the necessary amending legislation to bring cement manufactured by Cement Ltd. within the normal price control arrangements.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cement Prices.
61.
The conditions of the cement manufacture licence held by Cement Ltd., which govern the prices chargeable by the company are required to be reviewed with the company by 30th September next. In these circumstances, I could not now make any statement as to any action, legislative or otherwise, that may be taken in regard to future cement prices.
Could the Minister say why he thinks such an essential commodity in housebuilding and one which has such an affect on the cost of houses should be excluded from the prices review?
I have not said that.
The Minister said that it is outside the control of the Prices Advisory Body. The Minister said that last week. Why does the Minister think it should be outside it?
What I have just said now is that the conditions of the licence held by Cement Limited, which at present governs the prices chargeable by the company, require it to be reviewed by 30th September next. I followed that by saying it would not be appropriate then at this stage to make a statement on what action I would propose to take until such time as those discussions have taken place.
In other words, the Minister would consider introducing legislation, if necessary, after September?
I shall consider taking the appropriate steps required at the time.
The appropriate steps being, according to what the Minister told me, introducing legislation to change this position?
There is a question of changing the position and changing the price. There is a slight variation in it.
Changing the licence.