asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if in view of the adverse trade balance between Ireland and Communist countries, he will state what action he proposes to take to redress this imbalance.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Trade Imbalance With Communist Countries.
33.
In the case of countries with which we have an adverse trade balance, the aim is to seek to improve the position by encouraging the expansion of exports. It is recognised that special difficulties exist in regard to Communist countries and, with the object of providing the Government with powers to induce these countries to redress the balance by increasing purchases from us, the Restriction of Imports Act, 1962 was enacted. Under the Act, the Government has power to restrict imports if that is considered necessary to correct an adverse trade balance. So far, these powers have not been used but the development of trade with Communist countries is kept under constant review and the provisions of the 1962 Act can be invoked if the Government consider it necessary.
Would the Minister not agree that it is time this Act was enforced? We export £1 million worth to, and import £6 million worth from, these countries, and is it not time we did something about it?
If I agreed to that, it would have been done already. It is under constant review. There has been some improvement recently in the adverse figures.
Would the Minister not agree that figures at the moment are against us—£6 million worth coming in and only £1 million worth going out?
I do not think the figures are as the Deputy says. Four to one is the Proportion.
Why buy from Communists at all; why not go somewhere else?
If the matter could be dealt with as simply as that, the question would hardly arise at all. The position is being kept constantly under review and any useful and practicable steps will be taken, if the Government think them necessary.
Do we have trade representatives in those countries?
I think it is direct trading between our importers and those countries.
The Minister may not be aware of the fact that I have been putting down questions about this for the past eight years. The same reply is always given : the matter is under consideration. We are still buying from Soviet Russia and other countries.
The Deputy is not asking a question. He is making a speech.
I wanted to inform the Minister.
Yes, thank you.