asked the Taoiseach whether any special consideration will be given to obtaining an increase in Irish exports to East European countries with which Ireland now has a large import excess; whether attention has been given to improving the trade position with those countries which account for most of the imbalance; and what action will be taken.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Trade with Eastern Europe.
1.
The question of what action might be taken to secure an increase in Ireland's exports to East European countries, particularly to those countries with which our trade is in greatest imbalance, is kept under continuous review by the Government Departments concerned. Certain new steps that might be taken, including the possibility of concluding trade agreements with some of the countries of Eastern Europe, are being examined at present but it is not as yet possible to say what the outcome of this examination will be.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree that it is time we took up the offer of a trade agreement that was evidently made by the Soviet Union when our Foreign Minister visited Moscow at the signing of the nuclear agreement or the offer of any other country wishing to make a trade agreement with this country, with a view to improving our trade imbalance? Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware the Exporters Association say that in certain instances our export position could be improved by formalising a trading relationship with these countries with whom our trade is in very bad imbalance, notably Czechoslovakia, Poland and the Soviet Union?
I have just said that.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that an offer was made to our Foreign Minister to have a trading relation with at least one of these countries? It is a bit late in the day just to be thinking of it now.
The possibility of concluding agreements is being examined.
An offer has been made to us.
I take it the Taoiseach and the Parliamentary Secretary will bear in mind Czechoslovakia's experience consequent on intimate trading relations with Moscow, that they have now acquired imports for which they scarcely stipulated?