With reference to the amendment which was passed by the Seanad on the proposition of Senator Douglas and Senator Brown regarding the question of a standard specification for cement manufactured in or imported into the Free State, I would like to make a statement. In the first place, I should say that I thoroughly appreciate the position that has been taken up by the engineering profession, and by Senator Sir John Griffith in particular, that they are very anxious that this question of the specification should be fixed in a satisfactory manner, and that, if at all possible, it should be laid down in the Bill now before the House. Architects, engineers and importers of cement are, of course, most familiar with what is generally known as the British standard specification, and I may therefore say, in order to make it quite clear, that it is the intention to secure that the cement manufactured in the Saorstát shall be of a standard not lower, and if possible, after a full and competent examination, even of a higher standard than the British standard.
The intention is to set up a committee consisting of representatives of the engineering profession and of other persons with a competent technical knowledge to consider the drawing up of a standard specification for the Saorstát. The question will be regarded as one purely for those with the technical qualifications necessary to advise on the question, and the Minister proposes to accept the advice of such a committee. In this way the engineering profession may feel assured that nothing will be left undone to secure a proper specification for the cement to be manufactured in the Saorstát.
Such a committee will require some time for its deliberations, but as at least a year would be required for the erection of the factories, there would be time enough to have a suitable specification drawn up before the factories actually began operations. So far as the issue of cement manufacture licences is concerned, it has already been indicated to such companies as are putting in applications that it will be a condition of the licences that the cement to be manufactured must be of a proper standard and a standard not less than the British standard, which happens to be the one most familiar to engineers and architects. In this way, I think, the situation will be absolutely safeguarded and some assurance felt that cement manufactured in the Saorstát is of a proper specification.
I have reconsidered, in view of the remarks made on the amendment moved by Senator Douglas and Senator Brown, that part of the amendment relating to the fixing of a standard by regulation for cement imported under an import licence, and I am driven to the conclusion that for the short period before the Saorstát factories are operating it would only be an embarrassment to merchants and to the building trades generally if any attempt were made to bring such a provision into effect. It is proposed to issue licences in such a way during the intervening period as will maintain the conditions existing in the cement business during recent years. Nothing but embarrassment would be caused during this comparatively short period by bringing in a new provision which would interfere with the normal course of trade to this extent.
When the new factories are operating it is intended that they will meet the full requirements of the country in ordinary Portland cement. The only cement imported will be various varieties of special types of cements which may not normally be made in the Saorstát. Any attempt to draw up specifications for these various grades of special cements would only cause endless embarrassment to traders and builders without any corresponding advantage. In view of the assurances I have already given in relation to the specification of the cement to be manufactured in the Saorstát, I hope I shall not be pressed in relation to fixing a standard specification for imported cement.
The position, as the amendment stands, is that the Department of Industry and Commerce will be bound to make an order prescribing the standard specification, covering not alone the manufacture but also the importation of cement during the intervening period, between the passage of the Bill into law and the setting up of the factories. I would be prepared to accept the amendment if the House could see its way to delete all the references to import licences and to the importation of cement. I cannot see that it is really essential that the Seanad should press this matter of insisting on a standard specification for imported cement during the intervening period. As I explained, I think the position is fully met by the fact that the Minister will lay down conditions in the import licence. As regards the manufacture of cement, I stated that, in fact, we have powers to see that the specification is maintained, and in view of the insistence of the Seanad, I would be prepared to ask the Dáil to accept an amendment, if the Seanad could see its way to meet me by deleting the portion referring to the import of cement.
