asked the Minister for Finance if he will introduce proposals for legislation to put a tariff on tyres with a view to having a tyre factory established in Dublin; further, if he will state the value of tyres and foreign built motor buses which were imported into the Saorstát during the past two years.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - TARIFF ON TYRES.
I am not prepared to recommend to the Dáil the imposition of a customs duty on imported tyres, but if an application is made under the Tariff Commission Act by persons of the representative character required by the Act, I will refer it to the Commission for consideration.
The total value of the rubber tyres and tubes imported in the twelve months ended 30th September, 1926, was £446,985 and the total value of those imported in the twelve months ended 30th September, 1927, was £522,159.
No information is available regarding the value of "foreign built motor buses" imported into Saorstát Eireann but the value (exclusive of duty) of "commercial motor road vehicles" (including motor omnibuses) was £64,399 in the twelve months ended 30th September, 1926, and £195,287 in the twelve months ended 30th September, 1927.
Mr. BYRNE
In view of the fact that all tyres used in Ireland are foreign-made and that there is no likelihood of the manufacturers making application to the Tariff Commission, will the Minister consider the advisability of putting a tariff on foreign-made tyres so as to compel the manufacturers to start factories here and give employment?
The arrangement under the Tariff Commission is that only people, engaged either in the manufacture of an article on which it is proposed to put a tariff or people who propose to engage in such manufacture, can make applications. It is very doubtful whether a customs duty could be imposed with success unless we had some people who were prepared to engage in the industry and who would make a case for a specific duty which would have the effect of starting manufacture here.
Is the Minister not aware that a firm which already manufactures and imports tyres into the Saorstát applied for such terms as the Minister mentioned and had deliberations with the President in the matter some years back?
I am not aware of it personally, but in any case there is now machinery for investigating applications and recommending, if desirable, the specific tariffs which would have the effect of enabling manufacture to be started and it is open to them to apply.
I understand that the firm which I have in mind—the Dunlop Company—did make application and it was turned down.
They did not make application to the Tariff Commission.
They had consultation with the President in the matter.
I have no immediate recollection of it.