asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that an industrial safety advertisement put out by the National Safety Council for use in CIE was printed in Chicago, USA; and if in view of the aims of the national Buy Irish campaign he will explain the circumstances in which this advertisement was produced in the U.S.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Safety Advertisement.
41.
Mr. O'Leary
I am not aware that any safety poster put out by any organisation for which I have any kind of responsibility has been printed in Chicago. I think the poster to which the Deputy refers was produced by an organisation operating in the USA.
Mr. O'Leary
This poster for use in CIE has a note saying it was printed in the USA. I do not know what section of CIE was responsible for it. It has the right colour but it was printed in the wrong country.
Lest there be any doubt about this, the organisations producing this poster on safety are based in the USA and they are perfectly entitled to have it printed there.
Mr. O'Leary
Why was it not produced in this country?
You cannot get such posters produced in Ireland.
Buy Irish.
Mr. O'Leary
I imagine it should be possible to get some reputable printing firm in this country to print Safety First posters for us.
We have standard posters available from my Department. An attempt was made to produce them here but it was found it would not be economic because of the range and the cataloguing and therefore an American organisation did it.
What is unusual about it?
Is there anything so unusual about it that it could not be done in this country?
It is a public disgrace.
The range and variety which are necessary in this poster require a big market for them which we do not have. Its production here was attempted but was found not to be economic.
All this is developing into an argument.
Mr. O'Leary
I just want to make this final statement. The Buy Irish campaign does not have much chance of success if Government Departments do not give it their full support.
If there were an Irish article——
There should be.
If I should go into the poster business—that is another question.
Question No. 42.