asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if he will give details of the unfair methods which the Tánaiste alleged, according to a report of an address to the US Chamber of Commerce on 25 May 1978, some of the IDA's competitors have been resorting to.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - IDA's Competitors' Methods .
3.
: In his address to the US Chamber of Commerce in Ireland on 25 May 1978, the Tánaiste referred to the indications which we had recently that some of our competitors have been trying to undermine Irish promotional efforts by misrepresenting the situation in regard to the export tax concessions here. This reference related to the activities of a promotion agency of another EEC country. I am informed that the agency concerned misrepresented the position regarding export sales relief to at least three US based companies during the autumn of last year at a time when these firms were considering the location of manufacturing facilities in Ireland.
The essential feature of these misrepresentations was to call into question the credibility of assurances by the Irish Government concerning the entitlement of new firms establishing in Ireland to receive export sales relief until the statutory terminal date of 1990. Appropriate representations were made to the authorities in the member state concerned. Since then there have been no further indications that this type of conduct is being pursued.
: Does the Minister mean that an agency of an official kind, analogous to the IDA in this country —an official agency of another EEC country—were making these representations? Is that the size of it?
: I understand the position to be that they are a publicly funded agency, not analogous to the IDA to the extent that the IDA are a national organisation. Many of the other countries are organised from this point of view on a regional rather than a national basis.
: I appreciate that the Minister has made representations. I hope they have taken the form of a strong protest. I do not want to press him on the country concerned, but can political control be exercised over this agency by the country concerned so that a protest will reach the people it is destined for?
: I have reason to believe the protest has reached the people concerned.