asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if it is consonant with the provisions of the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement that arrangements be made whereby duty free licences for goods are issued if specified quantities of similar goods are purchased within the State; and if such arrangements are made by his Department as a normal practice.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Anglo-Irish Trade Agreement.
61.
There is nothing in the AIFTA Agreement to prevent the grant of licences remitting duty on dutiable goods but the agreement provides that where such goods are being imported from countries other than Britain and are not to be further processed in this country a duty of 5 per cent must be charged. Arrangements exist whereby licences remitting duty are granted in respect of certain aluminium goods and certain textiles, on the condition that specified quantities of similar goods are being purchased by the licensees from home manufacturers.