asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is satisfied with the standards of goods being imported into this country; if he will outline the type of standards that must be met by suppliers-importers into this country, for goods manufactured outside the State; the enforcement system of these standards being operated within the State; if he is satisfied with this system; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Imports Standards.
12.
(Limerick East): While I am generally satisfied that the majority of goods coming into this country are of an adequate quality for the purpose for which they are intended, I recognise that the quality of certain categories of goods coming onto the Irish market is such as to give rise to concern.
Under EC rules I am not empowered to set down specific requirements for imports. There are, however, a large number of regulations, introduced by various Departments, with which products must comply before they can be sold. These are primarily regulations implementing EC Directives for specific products or specific types of products, for example, regulations on electrical equipment, cosmetic products, dangerous substances, and so on, and enforcement is a matter for the Department with specific responsibility in each case.
In addition, I have made a number of orders setting out safety standards which products must meet. These orders are enforced by my Department's safety inspector. I am currently reviewing the arrangements for the monitoring and policing of these orders with a view to making the system more effective.
The Minister mentions safety standards being applied by his Department. Has he power under EC law to apply those safety standards to goods imported under the normal importation rules? Will the Minister indicate any instance in the past 12 months where he has applied the anti-dumping regulations allowed under the GATT regulations?
(Limerick East): First, there are no checks on products at the point of importation into the country. All Departments have their own inspection procedures for the enforcement of directives coming within their responsibility. There is a full time safety inspector employed in my Department to enforce section 44 orders and the European Communities low voltage electrical equipment regulations. That is the European mandate which allows me and my Department to operate through the safety inspector. Proposals are currently being examined to transfer responsibility in this area to the Director of Consumer Affairs. I do not have the information the Deputy requests in his second supplementary. I will inquire and forward an answer to him.
It is now 3.30 p.m. We are going on to questions nominated for priority. Ceist 27, Deputy Pádraig Flynn.