I will not detain the Dáil for any length of time in view of the lateness of the hour. I raise this matter in view of the fact that it is necessary to decide within the next day or two whether we should be represented at the Paris Exhibition. The French Government has requested that a decision as to whether Ireland is to participate in the International Exhibition of 1925 should be sent in by the end of May. The answer I received to my question through the Minister for Agriculture, replying for the Minister of Industry and Commerce, amounts practically to a direct negative in view of what I understand to be the facts, that the decision in this matter must take place within the next day or two. I have raised this matter in view of the fact that it is a typical example of the policy of the present Ministry of Finance, which has resulted in the gradual, perhaps rapid, downfall of the present Government. That is to say, a policy of taxing the people to the utmost limit, at the same time doing nothing whatever to stimulate or advertise the struggling industries in this country. It is no wonder that the worm is turning——
QUESTION ON ADJOURNMENT. - SAORSTAT REPRESENTATION AT PARIS INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.
What worm?
The Minister's reply, which perhaps I might be permitted to quote, is entirely unsatisfactory. He states in the second part of his reply: "If it appears that a sufficient number of firms engaged in the decorative industries is prepared to participate in a representative display and to bear their share of the expenses, the necessary arrangements will be made." Now this exhibition has nothing whatever to do with individual firms. This exhibition deals wholly with the exhibits of various Governments. I understand that practically all the Governments of the world are being represented in this exhibition with the exception of the Irish Government. It has nothing whatever to do with individual firms. I understand that the invitation to participate in this exhibition was sent to the Irish Government some two months ago. What has been done since? Nothing.
I fail to understand the exact reason for the existence of a Minister for Industry and Commerce. At any rate, he might change his title, if, when he receives an invitation from another Government to participate in an International Exhibition for the purpose of advertising Irish trade and commerce, he takes no interest in the matter. During the last two months, since the invitation was received, as far as I know the Minister for Industry and Commerce has done nothing whatever and has not even informed anyone of the reception of this invitation. When I was in Paris a short time ago I was asked by many people in official and industrial circles whether Ireland would participate in the Exhibition, and I was unable to give a reply.
I was informed, and I understand it is correct, that there is a time limit for replying, and the end of May is the time fixed when the reply to this request must be sent in. We are now at the end of that period, and yet the reply has not been sent in. The answer I got to my question to-day was that if it appeared a certain number of firms engaged in decorative industries were prepared to participate, the necessary arrangements would be made. Nothing has been done to acquaint those firms. The answer to my question also refers to the cost involved. I am sure we would be all glad to learn what estimates the Minister has received as to the cost of representation in this Exhibition. As I was informed in Paris, a pavilion will be provided for Ireland by the French Government.
I was also supplied with information dealing with the exact nature of this exhibition. It is a type of exhibition in which we could exhibit with, perhaps, considerable profit. It is, perhaps, regrettable that we did not take part in the Exhibition in Wembley this year. The case which the Government put up in connection with that was a very reasonable case: that this was a general exhibition and that it was not possible, in view of the circumstances in the country, to erect an Irish pavilion at Wembley, which would do credit to the State. This exhibition in Paris next year is a particularised exhibition. For the benefit of the Dáil I might read out the classes of products which can be exhibited at this exhibition. These include architecture, stone working, wood working, metal working, ceramic ware, glass ware, all kinds of wood work and furniture, fancy articles, household metal goods, cut glass and blown glass, textile industries of all kinds, including woollen goods, serges of every kind, etc., paper industry, games and toys, sporting goods, scientific and musical instruments, including Irish war pipes, men's fittings, including bicycles; millinery, clothing, jewellery and various other classes of exhibits. I am astonished that the Ministry of Industry and Commerce should not have bothered for two months to take any interest in, or to take any notice of, a formal invitation from a friendly Government to participate in an International Exhibition for the purpose of exhibiting Irish goods, and at which I think we could produce a very satisfactory exhibit.
I think it is typical of the present policy of the Ministry of Finance to prevent any attempt to exhibit or advertise Irish products. No attempt has been made to see whether the invitation of the French Government should be accepted in this matter. For that reason, and in view of the fact that an answer has to be given by the end of the month, I have raised this question in the Dáil, and I hope that the Minister, in view of what I have stated, will favourably consider the question of Ireland being represented at this International Exhibition in which all countries, including the Dominions, will be represented. I think it would be a disgrace if Ireland were not represented at the Exhibition.
I would be very much more readily disposed to give consideration to what Deputy Esmonde has said if he had managed to omit some of the numerous inaccuracies with which he interlarded his statement. It amazes me to hear Deputy Esmonde profess to be familiar with the details of this invitation, and with the answer to the invitation, and at the same time committing himself to the statement that no expenditure is involved in one respect.
I did not say that no expenditure was involved.
No expenditure is involved in one respect: that the French Government has decided to erect a pavilion and put it at the disposal of the Free State Government. I understood that was what the Deputy said.
Yes.
The invitation as it came before me, and the additional matter that I found on the files, stated that a sum of 500,000 francs would be required to build the pavilion and that would be a charge on the Free State Government. I think it is also discreditable on the part of Deputy Esmonde, without enquiring into the facts a little more closely, to display here an apparent negligence on the part of the Ministry. He used the phrase that for months nothing was done, that the invitation had to be accepted and a decision taken before the 31st May, and, if Deputy Esmonde had not come on the scene this morning, we are to conclude that nothing would be done, and his contention at this moment is that nothing has been done. That again is completely inaccurate. There have been many consultations with the French Consul on this matter, and quite an amount of search has been made as to how far an exhibit at this proposed exhibition would be creditable to the Free State. The French Consul has been kept informed of how matters were going. It is not correct to say that a decision must be taken before the 31st May. It is correct to say that the invitation must be answered, formally, before the 31st May, and an answer to that invitation will have been received before the 31st May.
Can the Minister say what the answer is?
The answer is that the invitation has been favourably received, and that a decision as to whether or not it is found possible to participate at the Exhibition will be taken later. The Exhibition does not come on, for some time, as the Deputy knows. I am not quite sure that it is a fact even to represent this matter as a Government exhibit. As far as I understand, the Government were approached with an invitation asking them if they would agree to get firms to participate in the Exhibition, and a certain amount of communication has to be made with individual firms to find out whether their products are such as would even, if the expenses were borne by other shoulders, make a creditable display. The financial end of the whole thing, whether or not the advantage that is likely to be derived from the expenditure of this sum of £6,000 for appearing at the Exhibition, is commensurate with that expenditure, has to be considered. There has been no failure to deal with this matter. There has been no delay whatsoever, no two months passed, without anything being done, and it is not a fact to say that no expenditure will be involved in the matter of the Pavilion.
The Dáil adjourned at 10.55 p.m., till Thursday, 29th May, at 3 p.m.