asked the Taoiseach if he is aware of (a) the damage being caused to certain Irish industries and (b) the number of jobs being put in jeopardy due to the adverse effects in Ireland of certain sections of the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement; and if he is prepared to point this out to the British Government and seek adjustments in the agreement.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Free Trade Area Agreement.
13.
I do not know what industries the Deputy has in mind. If he has information about particular industries and if he will let me have it I will have it examined.
Surely the Taoiseach knows that this agreement has proved more advantageous to Britain than to us and indeed that many of our industries—the boot industry, the jute industry, the car industry and other industries—are suffering at present and we are losing out on this agreement? And is the Taoiseach aware—
It was a bad agreement.
Yes.
Look, it was the best they could negotiate at that particular time but they can review the agreement. Would the Taoiseach not make any effort now, in view of the fact that we may not be in the EEC for three or four years, to review this agreement so that it might be more advantageous to our industries and to our people employed in industry?
There is provision in the agreement for review and that is being done. Further, where difficulties arise from time to time in certain industries consultations are held with Britain and normally the British accommodate us in the case we make to them.
How have the British——
There is one particular industry in the midlands which at present is experiencing a lot of difficulty —the just industry—and this has led to considerable unemployment and it appears likely that there may be further unemployment in that industry. Would the Taoiseach consider having consultations with the British with a view to having some provision made in regard to the jute industry?
We have been paying particular attention to that case and we will continue to do so.
Question No. 14.
Could the Taoiseach give us a definite example of where the British have accommodated us——
That is a separate question.
——over the last three or four years? The Taoiseach stated that they have had reviews with the British Government and that they have accommodated us. I would like to know what particular industry—I know that the Tánaiste is prompting him now—has been reviewed favourably for us because does the Taoiseach not agree that the British have broken this agreement on numerous occasions? Is he not aware that we are still supplying cheap food to Britain?
Question No. 14.
You called the next Question, Sir?
Could the Taoiseach simply state when the negotiations about the 3 per cent clause will be completed—the clause under which we are entitled, after July, 1970, to have excluded from the terms of the agreement imports equivalent to 3 per cent in 1969 which would mean about 9 per cent to 10 per cent of industry would be involved? How are those negotiations proceeding and when do we expect the agreed list to be announced?
I do not know that an agreed list would emerge at all but the review is continuing and I cannot say exactly when the review will terminate, but it is in the period now that the review can take place—this present period of the operation of the agreement—and it is taking place.
I am talking about the 3 per cent clause.
That is the one I am talking about.
The Taoiseach cannot say when that will be concluded?
I cannot, no.