asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in view of the large amount of coal now being imported into this country from South Africa, he will introduce regulations to ensure that all coal provisions are labelled by the country of origin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Coal Imports.
2.
As was indicated in reply to a similar Question in March 1986, legislation on the lines suggested has in the past been found by the European Court of Justice to be in breach of the Treaty of Rome. I do not propose therefore to introduce an origin-marking requirement in respect of coal.
I am most disappointed with the reply. I appreciate that the response on 30 March 1986 was from a member of another Government, but I had understood that Fianna Fáil——
A question, please.
Do this Government not recognise that it is incumbent on them to take some action with regard to South African coal in view of the fact that 600 miners lose their lives there every year in mining accidents? Whilst many of us would look for and accept a total ban on the importation of South African coal, the least the Government could do would be to impose regulations which would advise the public that the coal they might be buying originated in South Africa. It would be a matter for another day——
I must dissuade the Deputy from making speeches on the matter. Relevant questions, please.
It would be a matter for another day to confront the Court of Justice in Europe if we were found to be in contravention of the Treaty of Rome.
The Deputy is over-elaborating. He ought to resume his seat.
The Irish Government, having previously taken independent action——
The Deputy is persisting in making speeches. This is not in order.
I am calling on the Minister to appreciate the importance of this matter.
The Deputy has made his point.
I fully appreciate the points the Deputy is making. I am surprised that he should advocate the Government's taking a decision knowing it to be in breach of the Treaty of Rome, since the European Court of Justice has already decided the issue. The Deputy referred in his Question to "all coal provisions." That does not segregate South Africa from any other country. The issue has been decided by the European Court.
The Minister will be aware that 600 deaths occur annually in South African coal mines. Miners work for slave wages and there are separate living quarters. The purchase of such coal supports the abominable apartheid system. Would the Minister consider a total ban on the import of South African coal similar to the ban on fruit from that country?
That is a separate question. I fully appreciate the situation in South Africa and if the Deputy wants to put down a further question in relation to a total ban I will then outline the Government's position. We appreciate the situation in South Africa and have been party to other decisions. I have given an exact answer to the question tabled.
Accepting that the question relates to all coal, nonetheless specific reference is made to South Africa. It is quite clear what was intended in the question. When did the Court of Justice rule that a regulation of that nature would be in breach of the Treaty of Rome? Have there been any changes in circumstances in relation to South Africa which would put the Irish Government in a stronger position to seek to label coal originating in South Africa so that the consumer could be advised as to what he or she is buying?
I have no way of knowing what was in the mind of the Deputy when the question was put down. As a man who is very well educated and briefed in putting specific questions and in how the rules of the House operate, I must point out that his question referred to labelling all coal.
With specific reference to South Africa.
The exact date of the ruling is not on the file but I will get it for the Deputy this afternoon.
Will the Minister look into the matter?
I undertake to look into any possible action we can take.
Would the Minister not agree that the Treaty provisions he has cited were similar to those which were cited when we tried to introduce, and successfully introduced, the ban on South African fruit and vegetable produce? If the Department of Industry and Commerce who fought bitterly against the introduction of that ban want the same advice which the Department of Labour gave in the past the Labour Party now will be quite happy to give them the legal advice as to how they can bring in this sort of thing without being in breach of GATT requirements.
That is a separate question again, but if there is any action we can legitimately take in relation to the matter we will certainly consider it.
I am glad to hear that.
Only last week I signed an order complying with an EC decision to ban the importation of steel, but that is an EC decision. I complied with it and was happy to comply with it. I assure the Deputy that there is no lack of appreciation of the real problems in South Africa on the part of the present Government.