asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy the total estimated financial loss in exports incurred as a result of the telecommunications dispute.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telecommunications Dispute.
25.
Export performance is subject to a wide variety of factors ranging from the individual firm's ability to supply to the strength of international market demand at any particular time. Furthermore, the impact of these factors can vary considerably as between one sector and another.
Having regard to these considerations and to the impossibility of isolating from all the factors involved the particular effect on industry of the telecommunications dispute, it is not possible to furnish the information requested by the Deputy.
I asked the Minister for an estimate of the cost to our export industries of the telecommunications dispute. Could he confirm or deny that the projected loss repeated time and time again by people in authority in the export field as a result of this dispute is £1 million per day? Could he indicate the accuracy of that projection?
I am aware of the reports to which the Deputy refers. The only actual figures I have at my disposal are the figures for the three-month period up to the end of March which were announced last month. The export figure for the month of March was down only £3 million on the monthly projected figures by Córas Tráchtála Teoranta for their annual export performance which this year projects £3,200 million above the £2,500 million for last year.
Would the Minister agree that because of the telecommunications dispute there was considerable disruption of our export business?
I agree there has been considerable inconvenience and frustration but the hallmark of our exporters in the past and at present is their ability to overcome such frustrations and they have succeeded very well in doing that.
Would the Minister agree that a very large feature in the disruption caused by this dispute to industry will be reflected in figures not now published but in figures to be published in the months ahead? Would he care to comment on the estimate which has been frequently made by the Irish Exporters' Association that the loss will turn out to have been about £1 million a day?
If the Deputy asks about the export performance in a few months' time I will be able to give him definite figures rather than making a guess at this stage. As far as the report of the Irish Exporters' Association is concerned, up to 7 April 1978 only two companies had reported minor losses due to the dispute and CTT are in touch with up to 1,000 exporters per week.
Can the House take it that the Minister's opinion of the Irish Exporters' Association's claim is that it can be left out of account, that it is of no weight?
I have tremendous admiration for the work being done by organisations such as the Irish Exporters' Association. I feel on this occasion that their estimates do not measure up to the figures produced in the monthly report.
They could not be expected to measure up to figures produced by business dealings which are now six months or one year old.
Does the Minister accept as reasonable the estimate made by the Irish Exporters' Association that at least 10 per cent of their business is adversely affected and that they estimate the value of that 10 per cent to be £1 million a day? Obviously in the absence of hard figures one can only talk in terms of estimates, but does the Minister, with the benefit of the Department behind him, consider that that is a reasonable estimate?
No. I will admit that there has been considerable frustration and inconvenience to the exporters but I do not accept that estimate. On a brighter note I hope that this dispute will reach a satisfactory conclusion in the very near future.
Does the Minister agree with the Minister for Labour that the effects of the telecommunications dispute are greatly exaggerated?
Yes.
Does he seriously tell the House that the effects of this strike on our economy are greatly exaggerated?
Yes.
The Minister of State is living in cloud cuckoo land like the rest of the Cabinet and is not interested in solving——
(Interruptions.)
We inherited this problem.
Is the Minister aware of the statement by CII and the Irish Exporters' Association which clearly contradicts his statement? Would he care to comment on the CII's statement?
(Interruptions.)
What figures is the Minister talking about?
The export statistics for the month.
Would the Minister of State give his own estimate of the losses?
(Interruptions.)