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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 27 Apr 1978

Vol. 305 No. 11

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - “Buy Irish” Campaign.

21.

asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if directives have been issued to semi-State bodies to buy Irish-made products; and if he considers that further support for the "Buy Irish" campaign should be forthcoming from the public sector.

As the Deputy will be aware, I recently launched an intensive three-year programme to promote the sale on the home market of Irish-made goods. An important element in this programme is the active involvement of all State bodies in promoting the objectives of the programme not only through their purchasing decisions but through their influence on individuals and on firms in their various spheres of activity. The Government expect all State bodies to take the necessary steps to ensure that they contribute to the fullest extent practicable to the achievement of the objectives of the programme.

What steps have been taken by the Minister to ensure that semi-State bodies carry out this suggestion which is all it appears to amount to?

I have had a meeting with the heads of the major semi-State organisations and further meetings will be held with the local authority managers and with the heads of the various health boards. The Deputy can rest assured that the people concerned will be made aware of the tremendous industrial base we have now and that they will be conscious of the fact that many of the goods which had to be bought formerly from abroad are now available at home.

Would the Minister be satisfied with the situation in CIE, for instance, whereby such items as biscuits and jam available to travellers on the trains are not of Irish manufacture?

Assuming, then, that the Minister was not aware of this situation——

I have not said that. I intimated that I would not be happy with that sort of situation.

Is the Minister aware of it?

Is he taking steps to deal with that sort of situation?

The Deputy will be aware that we are a member of the EEC. In accordance with the directives from the Community in this regard it is not possible for us to instruct any organisation to purchase in any way that would cause unfair competition with companies from abroad. Again, the Deputy can be confident that the semi-State bodies, county councils and the health boards have been made aware of the potential on the Irish industrial market.

Is the Minister suggesting that it is not possible to do anything more than to encourage an organisation such as CIE that are in receipt of more than £30 million of taxpayer's money, to use Irish manufactured goods on their trains?

That is what I am saying.

In regard to the Minister's remark regarding the use of a substantial quota of Irish-made goods in semi-State bodies, may we take it that there are people in these organisations with specific responsibility for monitoring the situation in this regard?

The whole question of the monitoring of purchases is now under review. The House can be confident that the future purchasing by semi-State and other such organisations will be monitored.

Is there an implication in that reply that up to now there is no such monitoring?

Monitoring has been taking place in the past and all I have done in so far as the recently launched programme is concerned, is to tighten the situation.

Is the Minister aware that before Christmas the Minister of State at the Department of Education stated here that there was no one responsible for this type of monitoring in his Department?

I am not responsible for answers given by another Minister.

Is the Minister not responsible for the "Buy Irish" campaign? At least he must be responsible for the veracity of his answers and I am asking him how his replies today in regard to monitoring correspond with what was said in this regard by another Minister of State?

I have no knowledge of what my colleague said in December last. All I am saying is that there is now being undertaken the monitoring of purchases in semi-State and other such bodies.

This must be the last supplementary on this question.

Regarding an earlier supplementary, can the Minister assure the House that steps will be taken to ensure that goods used by a company such as CIE are of Irish manufacture?

Coras Iompair Éireann were one of the bodies who were in on the meeting with me recently. That was the meeting with the chief executives of the semi-State bodies.

Is it the intention to leave the matter at that—to do no more than talk with the chief executives?

That is not so. A further meeting has been arranged with the purchasing officers of the various semi-State bodies and the Irish Goods Council. As I have said regular monitoring in this area will be undertaken.

Is the Minister aware of a newspaper report suggesting that some Army uniforms and other items are supplied from abroad although they would be available at home?

That is a separate question.

It is a "Buy Irish" campaign question. If this newspaper report is correct what steps will the Minister take to put an end to the practice?

I suggest that the Deputy put a separate question to the Minister involved.

Is the Minister of State answering as the Minister responsible for the "Buy Irish" campaign?

I am responsible for the Irish goods campaign, but since we purchased more than £3,000 million worth of goods from abroad last year, I can hardly be expected to have details of every item to hand.

If the Government cannot direct CIE to buy Irish goods, surely they can issue such a direction to the Army. Can the Minister give us an assurance that steps will be taken in that regard?

I will bring the Deputy's remarks to the attention of the Minister for Defence.

The Deputy could send details to me directly.

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