The purpose of this Bill is to extend, for a further period of three years, the Control of Exports (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1956 which was to expire on 31st March, 1959 but which was renewed for two further periods of three years each.
The Act empowers the Minister for Industry and Commerce to prohibit by Order the exportation of industrial goods save under a licence issued by him. Orders made under the Act have a life of 12 months and are required to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after they are made, and the Orders may be annulled by resolution of either House. At present a number of goods are subject to export control under the Control of Exports Orders, 1965, which were made under the powers conferred under this Act.
I consider that the time has not yet come when the export controls may be dispensed with. Accordingly, it is necessary to enact legislation to continue these powers for some further time. The control is necessary in order to conserve scarce raw materials for the benefit of home industries and to ensure that strategic materials are not exported from or through this country to Communist countries. It is also desirable to have readily available a means of dealing with a situation in which in some international circumstances there might be a danger of the country being drained of some essential material.
For the reasons mentioned, I commend this Bill to the favourable consideration of the Seanad.
