asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that large quantities of lace made in China, Belgium, Turkey and Italy are being sold in the United States as Irish lace to the great detriment of those engaged in the Irish industry, and whether he proposes to take any steps to put a stop to this dishonest practice.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - DAMAGE TO IRISH LACE INDUSTRY.
LIAM MAC SIOGHUIRD
I am aware that the practice of falsely describing and selling as Irish lace, lace of Chinese and other foreign origin, has been indulged in to a considerable extent by traders in the United States of America.
The Ministry for Industry and Commerce have given close attention to this matter for some time past. At their request, the Saorstát Trade Representative at New York lodged formal complaint in this regard with the Federal Trade Commission at Washington on the 17th April, 1923. The Commission have had the matter under investigation since, and their decision will, it is expected, be made known at an early date.
The Ministry have, through the trade representative, obtained from several leading firms in the U.S.A. written undertakings to discontinue describing or selling non-Irish lace as Irish.
As a result of the Ministry's intervention, the practice complained of has been considerably checked, and should very soon cease altogether.