asked the Minister for Lands if, in view of the Buy Irish campaign, he has advised all State-sponsored bodies under the aegis of his Department to support the campaign; and if he will indicate the amount of foreign purchases of manufactured goods, on contract or otherwise, by his Department and by the State-sponsored bodies in the past 12 months, excluding goods which are not manufactured in Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Foreign Goods Purchases.
11.
(Cavan): There is no State-sponsored body under the aegis of my Department.
As regards the Department itself, the bulk of its requirements are obtained through the Central Purchasing Section of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, the Office of Public Works, and the Stationery Office. In addition, some items are purchased direct in local provincial towns on a competitive basis. The total value of these purchases is generally small and at this stage it would not be possible to differentiate between Irish and foreign items.
I can assure the Deputy, however, that apart from items not made in this country practically all the manufactured goods purchased by my Department are Irish.
"Practically all"?
(Cavan): The Deputy will appreciate the type of things to which that would apply.
The Minister is not sure?
(Cavan): The Deputy should be serious.
The Minister should check a thing like that. That is what the question is about.
(Cavan): The Deputy knows the type of purchases made by the Land Commission —posts for palings, nails, and so on.
It is such a small thing that the Minister should be able to get the figure.
What about machinery?
(Cavan): That is purchased through the Department of Posts and Telegraphs.