asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that, owing to the discontinuance of the bounty on the export of cotton and linen goods to England, and to the fact that these commodities are only permitted to enter Cuba and Brazil subject to a duty of 20 to 50 per cent. unless stamped "British manufacture," over 70 employees of the Greenmount Mills, Dublin, have lost their employment; that formerly this export trade amounted to thousands of pounds in wages per annum for the workers in this concern, and whether he will take steps (1) to have the bounty on the export of these goods to England restored, and (2) take the necessary action by a trade agreement with Cuba and Brazil or otherwise to recover these valuable markets.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bounty on Cotton and Linen Exports.
The bounty on the export of linen piece goods and manufactures to England has not been discontinued, but the payment of bounty on cotton piece goods would not be warranted in present circumstances. I am aware of the difficulties which Saorstát exporters of these goods have encountered in Cuba, Brazil, and other South American markets. Action has already been taken by the Department with a view to the removal of these difficulties, and I have every reason to believe that the action taken will achieve the desired object.