asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is satisfied that the campaign to encourage people to give preference to Irish manufactured goods is having the desired effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Buy Irish Campaign.
17.
I take it that the Deputy is referring to the guaranteed Irish programme. The principal aims of the present programme are, first, to secure the commitment of Irish manufacturers to high product standards and, second, to inform consumers and retailers as to the range and quality of the Irish goods which are available. I believe that the programme has had a good deal of success in achieving these aims. The number of companies participating in the scheme is now approaching 400. These companies are using the new symbol on their products and are operating the "satisfaction or money back" arrangement. I would hope that up to 1,000 companies will eventually take part.
Last December independent research revealed an 86 per cent public awareness of the guaranteed Irish symbol. Seventy per cent of consumers interviewed indicated that their choice of goods would be positively influenced by the guaranteed Irish symbol. In a questionnaire issued to manufacturing participants in January over 100 major manufacturers responded that the scheme had been of immediate benefit to their sales while 76 per cent of all respondents were satisfied that the scheme would increase their sales during 1976. Participating firms are contributing to the costs of the publicity campaign being carried out as part of the programme. In the pre-Christmas period almost half of the total expenditure was raised in this way. I would hope to see industry becoming even more involved, leading eventually to a situation in which the campaign would be entirely funded by industry.
In order to ensure the success of the guaranteed Irish programme, it is essential to secure the support of the retail and distributive trades. In this connection I am happy to report that the IIRS in association with the council has just recently published a directory that will be of considerable practical help to the retail trade buyer. This directory, entitled "Made in Ireland", provides a comprehensive list of consumer products made in Ireland together with the names of their manufacturers.
Plans are well advanced for the establishment this autumn of consumer information centres in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. These centres will provide consumers with information about Irish manufactured goods from local retail outlets.
I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for his most adequate reply. In this city it is almost impossible to buy a pair of men's socks. Last week I walked many miles and eventually found a pair that were made in the south of Ireland but I was informed that the factory had been closed.
I should like to thank the Deputy for bringing this matter to public notice. The establishment of the consumer information centres, including one in the city of Dublin, will enable other consumers to bring to the notice of the appropriate authorities complaints similar to those raised today by Deputy Moore. These centres will lead to a feedback of information which will ensure that, to the maximum extent, consumer demand is met by Irish products.