asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the total number of persons employed in the manufacture of (1) tobacco, (2) boots and shoes, (3) glass bottles, (4) soap and candles, (5) motor bodies, (6) sugar confectionery (including jam), (7) brushmaking, (8) shirts and collars, (9) blankets, blanketing and rugs (other than floor rugs), (10) hosiery and knitted goods, (11) wholesale clothing (i.e., men's and boys' factory-made clothing), hats, caps, ties and umbrellas, (12) handicraft tailoring, dressmaking, millinery, corsets, etc.; (13) furniture, (14) metallic bedsteads, (15) oatmeal, (16) margarine, (17) rosary beads, (18) woollens, and (19) down quilts, on the 1st March, 1934, and the number of separate businesses in respect of which the enumeration of employment in each case is made.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment in Various Industries.
I would refer the Deputy to the answer given on the 8th May, 1934, regarding the collection of the voluntary returns of employment as at 1st March, 1934, in respect of various protected industries. Since that date a further approach has been made to the concerns whose returns were then outstanding, but owing to the failure of certain firms to comply with the Department's request for information I am not yet in a position to furnish the particulars requested by the Deputy.
The Minister is aware that the question asked him to give information in respect of any of the nineteen industries mentioned for which he had the information. Are we to understand that in the case of none of these nineteen industries has the Minister the information asked for?
Not necessarily. That raises a further question.
The Minister is asked in respect of any of those industries for which he has the information. Could the Minister say why Irish manufacturers, who get the benefit of tariffs, do not give the information for which the Minister asks, and why he, who has statutory powers enabling him to force them to give the information, does not exercise the powers?
I cannot say.
Is this a conspiracy between the Minister and the manufacturers?