asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if, in regard to contracts for uniform cloths placed or about to be placed by his Department, he will ensure that all processes in manufacture will be carried out within the country, such as yarn manufacture, weaving, dyeing and furnishing; and if he will give an undertaking to the industry that preference will be given to total Irish manufacture now and in the future.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - PO Uniform Cloths.
17.
The main contracts for the current year's requirements of uniform cloths, which have been placed in the past fortnight, provide that all the material be manufactured in Ireland from Irish yarns. I am unable to give the general undertaking sought in regard to all contracts to be placed in the future.
I should add that the rules governing the affording of preference for Irish manufacture in the award of Government contracts are made by the Minister for Finance, and any modification of them would be a matter for that Minister in the first instance.
I should like to point out that the word "furnishing" in my question should be substituted by "finishing". Would the Minister be more specific? When he says that some of the contracts have been placed or are about to be placed, how many have been placed?
All.
Does that apply to woollen uniforms as well?
Yes, all.
Does that apply to yarn manufacture and the dyeing process? Will they be carried out in this country?
That is correct.
That is an undertaking and a guarantee?
I am speaking now of contracts placed. For reasons which the Deputy will, I hope, understand and respect, I cannot give the kind of general undertaking sought in regard to all contracts to be placed in the future. I am sure the Deputy will understand without me telling him why that is so.
When the Minister talks about "all those placed or about to be placed", is he talking about the long-term future or the short-term future? I am talking about the contracts which are in process of being placed at the moment or have been placed over the past two weeks. Can I have the same assurances about them?
In regard to the current year's requirements, tenders were sought for 17 items. Contracts have been placed for 15 items to be manufactured in Ireland from Irish yarns. The other two contracts have not yet been placed but, of course, the same policy considerations will apply.
To those two?
Yes.
Can the Minister give us an undertaking that if possible all those processes will be carried out here?
Yes, where suitable tenders are received.
That is the point I am worried about. Will the Minister give me an undertaking in regard to those two contracts?
In the public interest I wish the Deputy would not press me on this area. He is aware of our commitments as a member of the EEC which precludes me from giving the kind of general undertaking with regard to the future which appears to be sought here. The Deputy ought to be satisfied with the information I have given. Contracts worth £500,000 have been placed and all these contracts are with Irish firms to be produced entirely in Ireland. I hope, and I believe, that tenders will be such that the remaining tenders, two out of 17, will also go to Irish firms. I cannot give the type of general undertaking sought here that in all cases no foreign goods are to be purchased. That we cannot do because it would be inconsistent with our obligations.
I accept the Minister's reasons and I will not press him further. What two contracts have not yet been placed?
Information about specific contracts is not normally given in this House.
The Minister used the words "if tender price is suitable". Would he not go a little further and say that even where the price shows a discrepancy against the Irish tender, he should still give it favourable consideration?
That is why he used the word "suitable".
That is the kind of information I would ask Deputies not to press me for. The record of my Department in placing these contracts to date should inspire confidence in the House that due consideration is being given to all items. All the contracts placed have been with Irish firms, for the manufacture of goods exclusively in Ireland.
May I ask the Minister——
I have allowed Deputy Fitzgerald a great deal of latitude, and still he is imposing.
I promise to be very brief, and the Minister need not give me a reply, but would he take into consideration that the five processes I mentioned will be carried out here?
I will give it consideration.
Do I understand that because we are in the EEC we must hide any dealings we have regarding purchases from our people?
The Deputy is raising another matter which is the responsibility of another Minister. Question No. 18.
The Deputy and his colleagues were exceedingly anxious to assume the obligations which go with EEC membership and I am afraid now that we are in the EEC we must honour those obligations.