asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will make a statement on the claim made by a firm (name supplied) in Ballybay, County Monaghan that they are manufacturing rubber-moulded sole units for boots and shoes made in this country; and if he will state why he is continuing to allow the importation and use by semi-State bodies of Italian vibram soles on boots supplied by them to their employees.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Vibram Sole Imports.
48.
Rubber-moulded and plastic sole units are free of duty and may be imported and used by Irish footwear manufacturers without restriction. Our international commitments would not allow of the imposition of a tariff on these products at this stage.
Without further information I cannot comment in any detail on the second part of the Deputy's question but I assume that the semi-State bodies he has in mind purchased the footwear supplied to their employees from an Irish footwear manufacturer who would be free to import the vibram soles.
Would the Minister not agree that his Department received a letter on 19th April last from Hypp Products Limited, Ballybay, pointing out that they were making the same type of soles that were being imported from Italy and Czechoslovakia for the purpose of putting them on footwear which was being sold mainly to semi-State bodies such as the ESB? If the Minister cannot put a tariff on imported soles, surely he can advise the semi-State bodies that they should buy Irish-manufactured soles in preference to foreign goods?
What the Deputy is suggesting is that there is a danger to employment being given by shoe manufacturers who import some section that goes into the manufacture of the shoe. I can assure the Deputy that at present there is a common external tariff within the EEC on the units we are talking of and which we are importing now, the complete sole and heel units, and where we have not a duty now we shall have a duty of 6.5 per cent if we succeed in entering the EEC. That will go on any imports from Czechoslovakia.
The Minister is of course, aware that the main import is from Italy? I just mentioned Czechoslovakia to show that foreign products seem to be preferred by some of the Irish manufacturers.
I am inclined to think it is a little unfair to fling out that. As I said, the Deputy did not indicate in the question what State or semi-State bodies he was referring to and so did not give me the opportunity of making the fullest inquiries. If a semi-State body is ordering shoes from an Irish manufacturer they must automatically assume that the finished shoe is an Irish product and to tell them to cancel the order when they find that the sole has been imported is a little bit difficult.
If that body is accused of having said to the manufacturers that they prefer Italian soles and that "Made in Italy" is stamped on the sole, the only part of the shoe or boot which is imported, would the Minister not agree that that is extraordinary?
I would.
If I had that this firm have had to dismiss 40 per cent of their employees as a result of a preference being shown to mainly Italian footwear, will he not agree this means that this is another industry which is likely to fall by the wayside and the EEC will certainly not help it and that, in fact, it will hinder it?
The Deputy has just mentioned the ESB. This is the first time——
I had a question down to the Minister's colleague, the Minister for Transport and Power in regard to the same matter, the shoes made in Italy. That is why I put this one down.
Certainly, there is no doubt that the semi-State bodies are constantly reminded and, I am satisfied, are aware of the necessity to purchase Irish-made articles. I should be surprised if there was any question of any semi-State body indicating that they would only take a firm's products if they insisted upon fitting some sort of foreign-made part.
Would the Minister not accept this documentation which gives more particulars than he obviously has got and, perhaps, he would be able to do something about it.
The Deputy is unloading a great deal of documentation today.
I am. I believe if I get information about these things, the proper place to put it is on the plate of the Minister who is dealing with it. Then he cannot say that he does not know.
Fair enough. I fully accept that, but it is not necessary to have it done by messenger of the House.
It is the quickest way to do it. I hate to use the State postal facilities for the purpose of transmitting something that can be handed over.
That is fair enough. Let me say quite clearly that I always felt up to now that I had proved as accommodating as possible to the Deputy from the point of view of being available but apparently that does not do.
Very accommodating, and I have paid public tribute to that, but I am sure the Minister is not offended if I say that this is something that might be of interest to him. He does not object to handling it?
I do not object to handling it but there is the implication that it is the only way to get a message to the Minister —by raising it in the House.
No, no.
That is fair enough.
I appreciate that the Minister is always at least approachable.