asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that the National Union of Vehicle Builders applied to the Tariff Commission for the imposition of a tariff on coach and motor bodies, and lodged the required £100 deposit on August 9, 1927, but have not since been informed when the application will be considered; and whether he is aware that a large number of motor-bus bodies, which could be manufactured here, are now being imported, and if, in view of this fact, he will expedite the hearing of the application.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - TARIFF ON COACH AND MOTOR BODIES.
This application was referred by me to the Commission on the 31st January last. The applicants paid the fee in the prescribed manner (namely, by means of stamps impressed on a form supplied by the Commission) on the 8th August. They did not, however, notify the Commission that payment had been made until the 23rd August.
For the purpose of the notice to be published in the Press announcing the application and inviting persons desiring to give evidence in connection with it to communicate with them, the Commissioners found it necessary to address a letter to the applicants on the 25th October requesting them to furnish a concise statement setting out explicitly the scope of their application. When a satisfactory reply has been received to this letter the application will be announced in the Press and a day fixed for the first public hearing in connection with it.
No information is obtainable as to the number of motor omnibus bodies imported, and in the time available it has not been possible to ascertain the value of the bodies of "commercial motor road vehicles" (including motor omnibuses) imported in recent years.
Is the Minister aware that if the importation of motor bus bodies continues at the present rate, the demand will have decreased very considerably by the time the application is considered by the Commissioners?
I have not any figures, but I would just inform the Deputy that when the applicants for this tariff were informed of the amount of the fee, namely, £100, they allowed a period of four months to elapse before they paid it.
Will the Minister now give an undertaking to expedite the hearing of the application?
The hearing will be expedited.