asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he regards profits in the retail trades generally as (1) excessive, (2) insufficient or (3) fair.
81.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Trading Profits.
80.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he regards profit in transportable goods industries as a valuable source of capital for reinvestment for expansion not only of production but of employment; and if he regards profits generally as excessive or insufficient.
I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 80 and 81 together.
I have no information which would enable me to comment on the profit position in the retail trades generally, or in the transportable goods industries.
As regards profits in transportable goods industries being a source of capital for reinvestment, the position would, no doubt, vary from firm to firm, depending on amounts of profits earned and decisions taken regarding their allocation.
How does the Minister reconcile the fact that he has no information with the fact that the Taoiseach last week indicated a rather unfortunate view in relation to prices and that prices were excessive?
I have no information on profit margins generally but costs can push up prices, apart from any profit margin consideration at all. There is a variety of factors which influence prices.
The explanation is that they are a panic-stricken rabble.
We will want all that information next week when the Prices Bill comes up.
No matter what dinner parties there are, they are all telling a different story.