asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce what are the thirteen groups of taxable articles, representing imports to the value of £6,000,000 regarding which, he has stated, applications have been made from time to time for tariffs; and how many of these applications have been referred to the Tariff Commission.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - GROUPS OF TAXABLE ARTICLES.
The thirteen groups of taxable articles representing annual imports to the approximate value of £6,000,000 regarding which applications have been made from time to time to my Department for tariffs are (1) woollen piece goods, (2) wheaten flour, (3) down quilts, (4) leather, (5) fish barrels, (6) agricultural machinery, (7) yeast (if manufacture is restarted on a sufficiently large scale in the Saorstát), (8) printed matter, (9) fertilisers, (10) briar pipes, (11) packing cases, (12) packed salt, and (13) fibre. These applications were made prior to the passing of the Tariff Commission Act, 1926.
Since the passing of that Act applications have been made under it in respect of the first five-mentioned articles, the application in the case of leather being confined to leather required for certain purposes connected with boots and harness, and have been referred to the Commission.
Do I understand the Minister to say that no industries applied for tariffs prior to the establishment of the Tariff Commission except those enumerated?
I was not asked that.
Will the Minister take into consideration the fact that brewers and distillers will not apply for a tariff on foreign malt, and that as a consequence a great deal of unemployment is caused, and will he get the Tariff Commission to inquire into it?
I cannot do it.