asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he has seen a statement published in the Press of November 7th that a combination of private motor bus owners propose to take steps to bring about a large increase in the number of their motor buses on the road in the near future, and if in view of the fact that an application for a tariff on bus bodies is at present before the Tariff Commission, he will introduce proposals for legislation to prohibit the importation of motor buses pending the submission of the Tariff Commissioners' report.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - MOTOR BUSES.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and to the second part, that I do not intend to introduce legislation prejudging the matter which is before the Tariff Commission for report.
As the Minister has not seen the statement in the Press, I will read it. It is in the "Evening Mail" for November 7th. It reads:—"It is stated that steps have been taken to bring about a large and immediate increase in the number of privately-owned buses." My information is that these bus proprietors intend to dump 150 buses in the course of the next few months at a value including duty and carriage of £700 per body. That is £105,000 altogether. In view of the fact that the dumping of this large number of buses into the country will effectively kill the demand for buses for a long time to come, will the Minister not reconsider his decision?
I cannot prejudge a matter that is under the consideration of the Tariff Commission. The Deputy might again consider the word "dumping."
Is not the real difficulty that by the time the Tariff Commission will have considered and reported, the country will be flooded with foreign-made motor buses?
Am I to take it that dumping means foreign-made motor bodies coming into the country?
The Irish bus manufacturers claim that they can manufacture the buses at £550 each.
That is a claim that will have to be proved. Even then one would have to get a definition of dumping, and it is really dumping the Deputy refers to. In addition, the Deputy must consider that if buses are put on roads and if, afterwards, application is made to put other buses on those roads, Irish-made buses will be given preference.
Is the Minister aware that buses are being dumped into this country under the cost of production?
I am not aware of that.
It is all due to competition on the other side where one big combine is able to crush another combine out of existence altogether. The result is these buses are dumped into this country under the cost of production.
The Deputy is making a statement about the very item that is under the consideration of the Tariff Commission, exactly whether there is dumping and whether the dumping means selling here under the cost of production.
Such dumping is taking place.
Of course, the Deputy is merely stating his own views.