Vol. 318 No. 4
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism if any survey has been carried out into the retail grocery trade to ascertain the percentages of imported food-stuffs vis-à-vis home produced foodstuffs and, if not, if it is intended to carry out such a survey.
36.
andMr. Enright asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism the percentage of food purchased by consumers in this country which is supplied by Irish owned and Irish controlled manufacturers.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 36 together.
My Department, in collaboration with the Central Statistics Office, are at present engaged in assembling statistics which will show the rates of any increases in imports of food and other products which are in direct competition with Irish-made products and the extent, if any, to which such imports are increasing their share of the Irish market. I expect that this information will be available shortly.
Surely the Minister knows that at least four multi-national companies are importing commodities which are being manufactured here and that nothing is being done about it? What does the Minister intend to do?
I am aware that food and other items are imported. The main countries from which the imports arrive are members of the European Community and consequently we have no control over the importation of these items. We export about 15 times more food than we use and it would not suit us to involve ourselves in tariff barriers to trade to protect our products.
A survey conducted in the North of Ireland, such as one that I would envisage taking place here, showed that over 90 per cent of their foodstuffs are imported. We appear to have a situation similar to that which obtains in the North of Ireland. Is the Minister aware that multi-national supermarkets are daily importing lorry loads of food?
I am sure the Deputy will be delighted to hear that within our food processing industry in the last 12 months there has been a significant increase in the work force.
I would like to know when the inquiry mentioned in the Minister's reply was conducted? What is the position in regard to the importation of food? From a rough check of the trade statistics there appears to be a very sizeable increase in imports.
The Minister has already answered that question.
Is the Minister aware that at least one multi-national, who agreed on coming here to purchase Irish goods where possible, is now in breach of that agreement and, if so, is the Minister prepared to take action?
Some of the multinationals that have come here are very good supporters of Irish manufacturers.
I am talking about one in particular.
If the Deputy gives me the details I will have them examined. I would encourage all stores, whether owned by those outside or inside the State, to support Irish manufacturers as far as possible. I would like to see some of the Irish-owned stores supporting Irish producers and manufacturers at the same level as some of the multinationals.
