asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will comment on the standardisation agreement between the IIRS and the Department of Defense of the United States of America on the qualification of products of manufacturers resident in either country; and whether the IIRS are authorised to act on behalf of the US Department of Defense in controlling quality standard of goods to be exported for use by the US armed forces.
Written Answers. - IIRS-US Defense Department Agreement.
48.
Limerick East): The agreement between the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards and the United States Department of Defense, which was concluded on 8 March 1983, provides that each party to the agreement is permitted to certify conformity to agreed product standard specifications. The agreement is of an administrative and technical character and does not involve any defence or military commitments.
This agreement was concluded to facilitate access to the US market for Irish manufactured products and thereby help to create and safeguard jobs in Irish industry.