asked the Minister for External Affairs why special terms were not requested for the boot industry on the opening of negotiations on Ireland's entry into the Common Market.
7.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Membership of EEC.
6.
asked the Minister for External Affairs why special terms were not requested for the electrical goods industry on the opening of negotiations on Ireland's entry into the Common Market.
With your permission a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 7 together.
The time available up to the end of the transitional period should suffice for the industries in question to prepare for Common Market conditions.
Is the Minister not aware that the principals of both industries have indicated that there will be grave trouble in these industries if we do not get special terms for them? Does the Minister not realise that the terms of the Anglo-lrish Free Trade Area Agreement may seriously affect the position even before the Common Market affects it at all? One of the safeguards should be special terms for the boot and shoe industry and the electrical goods industry. Is the Minister aware that, where the electrical goods industry is concerned, there was a very high rate of redundancy in other countries in the Common Market and, if we do not get special terms, as we continue with our reductions in tarrifs, which we seem to be doing, we will have serious trouble in this industry so far as employment is concerned? As well as asking for special terms in the jute and car assembly industry we should ask for special terms for these two as well.
The transitional period is expected to be about five years. It is expected there will be a period of two years before we get in. That will give us seven years from now during which time such industries will have an opportunity of working towards full free trade conditions.
The matter is far too serious to let it go like that. Surely if there was a serious situation in the jute industry and the car assembly industry, the figure of seven years mentioned by the Minister refers to them also and, if there is danger in the case of these two industries, why do we not take up a special bargaining position as other continental countries have done in the Common Market situation, and ask for special terms for these two?
The question of what bargaining position to adopt is primarily a matter for the negotiators. There is provision under article 226 of the Rome Treaty for special protective duties to be imposed in the interests of any industry which may suffer during the transitional period. That particular article can be invoked.
Are we to wait then until the suffering has occurred? Is that the Government's line? If we can ask in the case of the jute and car assembly industries, why can we not ask in the case of the other two?
The question of motor cars does not arise.
Is the Minister not aware that preferential treatment was secured, and rightly so, for certain Irish industries? Is it not an amazing state of affairs that, in respect of the boot and shoe industry, which was known to be vulnerable in free trade circumstances, the terms were very much worse? Is the Minister not further aware that, since the abolition of the quota last July, there has been an increasing volume of imported footwear, resulting in serious dislocation, closures, redundancies and unemployment and, in those circumstances, would the Minister ensure that immediate steps are taken to stop the flood of foreign imports?
The footwear industry is in an entirely different position compared with the jute and car assembly industries. The latter faced complete elimination whereas the footwear industry has faced up to the free trade conditions since 1966, to such an extent that current exports are running in the order of £3.5 million a year.
Is it not a fact that, if the present trend continues in imported footwear, some 2,000,000 pairs of boots and shoes will be surplus before the first year is out?
This is an industry already working well under free trade conditions. As I say, exports total £3.5 million a year.
The Minister mentioned the jute industry. In fact the very raising of the matter has meant the destruction of the jute industry in Clara.
That does not arise.
Deputies cannot have it both ways.
There are 300 men out of work in Clara. That community is being destroyed. The machinery is being removed to Waterford.
I told the Minister for Industry and Commerce that 12 months ago in this House and he denied it.
If that is the position when there are special terms what will it be like when we join the Common Market?