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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 6 Nov 1973

Vol. 268 No. 9

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Footwear Imports and Exports.

2.

asked the Taoiseach if he will state in respect of each of the years 1968 to 1973 the volume of exports of a company (name supplied) in the following ranges: (a) children's (b) infants to teens (girls) (c) infants to teens (boys) (d) ladies short and knee length wellingtons (e) men's wellingtons, size 6-12 and (f) men's galoshes, overboots and waders.

The information requested by the Deputy cannot be supplied. External trade statistics are not compiled in respect of individual companies and the provision of such data would, in any event, be contrary to accepted practice.

Arising from the Parliamentary Secretary's reply, is he aware that the company in question, which enjoyed a monopoly here for years and which was protected by tariffs and otherwise, have now sent out a circular letter expressing regret and saying that a particular range of footwear would not be available until 1974? Has the Parliamentary Secretary anything to add?

The answer is that I do not know anything about this firm. The question put down by the Deputy was in respect of exports. The information about exports is not compiled in respect of individual firms.

I accept that. I have also a question on exports.

Trade statistics are not compiled in respect of individual firms. Even if they were it would be against established practice to supply the information in this form.

3.

asked the Taoiseach the number of pairs of children's, teenagers', women's and men's wellingtons and overshoes imported in each of the years from 1968 to 1973.

Data are not compiled for the specific categories in question. The available data relate to total imports of footwear with soles and uppers (a) of rubber or rubber coated fabric and (b) of plastic or plastic-coated fabric. With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to circulate in the Official Report, a statement showing the above information.

Following is the statement:

IMPORTS of footwear with soles and uppers of rubber or artificial plastic material in each year 1968 to 1972 and in the first quarter of 1973.

Description

Quantity (number of pairs)

1968

1969

1970

1971

1972

January- March 1973

Footwear with soles and uppers of rubber or rubber coated fabric

172,692

196,152

307,872

210,768

270,216

78,041

Footwear with soles and uppers of plastic or plastic coated fabric

224,832

547,620

765,240

858,312

1,125,948

317,921

TOTAL

397,524

743,772

1,073,112

1,069,080

1,396,164

395,962

4.

asked the Taoiseach the total exports of footwear to each of the EEC countries in each of the years 1968 to 1973.

5.

asked the Taoiseach the volume of imports of footwear from England to this country in each year from 1968 to 1973.

6.

asked the Taoiseach the total imports of footwear from each of the EEC countries in each of the years from 1968 to 1973.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 4, 5 and 6 together and to circulate in the Official Report a statement showing the available information.

Following is the statement:—

TOTAL IMPORTS OF FOOTWEAR* FROM EACH OF THE EEC COUNTRIES IN EACH YEAR 1968 TO 1972 AND IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1973.

Country of Origin

Quantity (dozen pairs)

Value £

1968

1969

1970

1971

1972

January-March 1973

1968

1969

1970

1971

1972

January-March 1973

Great Britain

39,056

62,077

107,086

150,434

215,344

69,495

451,047

905,618

1,551,914

2,410,384

3,698,143

1,430,087

Northern Ireland

223

104

955

2,012

3,747

1,651

2,085

4,408

11,450

30,172

88,771

41,095

Belgium

22

24

23

136

514

664

108

1,332

2,638

2,981

Denmark

377

431

38

27

601

31

123

235

967

511

2,197

812

Luxembourg

Germany (Federal Republic)

691

1,224

3,232

14,185

1,495

361

15,231

26,317

73,048

63,951

38,049

9,082

France

2,446

1,891

3,394

2,863

3,432

1,961

45,922

43,794

62,684

58,317

59,223

34,622

Netherlands

577

3,561

1,506

1,251

860

43

3,405

9,564

13,230

5,947

5,843

1,062

Italy

4,550

9,006

12,492

11,206

12,475

1,583

159,958

266,217

313,051

309,152

316,277

53,757

TOTAL

47,942

78,318

128,726

182,114

238,468

75,125

678,435

1,256,261

2,027,676

2,881,072

4,211,484

1,570,517

*Excluding gaiters, spats, leggings, etc., and parts thereof.

EXPORTS OF FOOTWEAR* TO EACH OF THE EEC COUNTRIES IN EACH YEAR 1968 TO 1972 AND IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1973.

Country of Origin

Quantity (dozen pairs)

Value £

1968

1969

1970

1971

1972

January-March 1973

1968

1969

1970

1971

1972

January-March 1973

Great Britain

141,584

136,113

110,050

117,262

127,677

31,787

2,234,537

2,440,750

2,168,425

2,533,680

2,756,124

741,376

Northern Ireland

11,939

8,159

5,001

7,473

3,898

626

155,051

138,543

101,021

137,990

81,904

17,164

Belgium

77

1,925

Denmark

142

864

278

2

781

5,282

5,169

63

Luxembourg

Germany (Federal Republic)

8,172

2,525

194

120

71

77,433

28,975

1,388

1,764

1,842

France

61

12

28

126

399

3

634

197

402

2,425

14,260

125

Netherlands

19

384

1

106

456

8,255

28

3,161

Italy

1

2

32

34

53

Total

161,898

147,692

115,657

125,140

132,172

32,597

2,468,436

2,614,235

2,279,491

2,679,298

2,856,005

763,784

*Excluding gaiters, spats, leggings, etc., and parts thereof.

Excluding re-exports for the years 1968 to 1972. These were valued at £15,000, £22,000, £22,000, £32,000 and £31,000 in each year 1968 to 1972 respectively. Quantitative data are not available.

7.

asked the Taoiseach the amount of wood or wood products ducts, including paper and board, imported in 1972.

Imports of wood, wood products, paper and paperboard in the year 1972 amounted to £42.5 million.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary envisage a situation whereby we may be able to grow a greater quantity of wood in order to eliminate the import excess?

As the Deputy knows, that is a matter on which a debate took place in this House on the Estimate on forestry. Naturally that depends on exports being replaced as time goes on. I would not like to predict when that will happen.

Has the Parliamentary Secretary any plans for the rationalisation of the purchase of timber in view of the massive increase in the cost of housing?

The Deputy is broadening the scope of the question.

The Taoiseach's Department are not responsible for that.

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