Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 8 Dec 1981

Vol. 331 No. 7

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Trade with South Africa.

2.

asked the Taoiseach if he will give details of exports of goods and services from this country to South Africa for the last year for which figures are available; and if he will list the actual exports of goods and services and their monetary value.

I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving details of exports of goods to South Africa and Namibia in 1980.

Following is the statement:

Value of exports to South Africa and Namibia for the year 1980.*

£000

Dairy products and birds' eggs

349

Sugar, sugar preparations and honey

108

Miscellaneous edible products and preparations

121

Beverages

318

Crude fertilisers and minerals

233

Organic chemicals

2,221

Inorganic chemicals

386

Medicinal and pharmaceutical products

1,183

Essential oils, perfume materials, toilet, cleansing, etc., preps.

378

Artificial resins, plastic materials, cellulose esters and ethers

176

Chemical materials and products, nes.

245

Rubber manufactures

302

Textile yarn, fabrics, made-up articles and related products

758

Non-metallic mineral manufactures

232

Manufactures of metals, nes.

235

General industrial machinery and equipment and parts

1,037

Office machines and automatic data processing equipment

599

Electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances and parts

191

Footwear

65

Professional, scientific and controlling

apparatus

470

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

363

Other

1,072

Total

11,040

*(1) Available data refer to exports to the Republic of South Africa and to Namibia.

(2) Does not include exports from the Shannon Free Airport area.

Could the Minister of State give the total amount of exports and combined services?

It is £11 million for exports of goods. Corresponding information concerning exports of services is not available.

In view of a speech made at the UN by the Irish Ambassador calling for an embargo on oil for South Africa, is it the intention of the Government to call for an embargo on Irish exports to South Africa to back up our Ambassador to the United Nations?

If the Deputy puts down a separate question to the relevant Minister he will deal with that.

Is the Minister of State going to put his money where his mouth is or is this just another empty exercise of the liberal statements which we hear which are not backed up?

The Deputy is aware of procedure and he knows that if he wants an answer and puts down a question to the relevant Minister he will get a reply.

Top
Share