asked the Taoiseach if the Government have any proposals to counteract the recent drop of £1.3 million in the value of this country's monthly exports.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Value of Exports.
1.
The drop of £1.3 million shown in the provisional figure for total exports in January, 1972, as compared with January, 1971, is disappointing. However, the reversal in one month's external trade figures is not sufficient to warrant undue anxiety. The Government are keeping the situation under close observation, and Córas Tráchtála have recently exhorted exporters to make personal contact with their customers in the United Kingdom to allay any possible doubts about orders being filled promptly.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary not think that the February figure will be equally as bad, if not worse? Does he not think that more effective measures will be called for?
On 9th February Córas Tráchtála strongly urged exporters to take steps to ensure that all their customers in Britain and in the Six Counties would be informed of the normality of commercial life in the Twenty-Six County part of our country by personal contact, by correspondence, or by telephone contact. This campaign is continuing.
Could the Government not do something more effective instead of leaving it to the individuals concerned? This is a national issue. A concerted effort might be more successful.
This is what is being done with the assistance of everybody.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that it will be very difficult to undo the damage done to this country in such matters as exports through the kind of action taken yesterday by the IRA at Aldershot?
I would, indeed—by the Sinn Féin Official IRA.