asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if the Government propose to take action under subsection (5) of article 1 of the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Agreement in respect of the footwear industry and textile industry before the last permissible date, viz. 1st July, 1971.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Footwear and Textile Industries.
50.
Article I (5) of the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement provides that, following a review to be undertaken by the Irish Government during the year commencing 1st July, 1970, consultations must take place with the British Government to consider what measures are appropriate to deal with the difficulties which have occurred, or are threatened in certain industries, as a result of the reduction of protection under the agreement. The British Government have been requested to enter into the necessary consultations at an early date. Until this precedure is completed I think it would not be desirable to indicate which industries are to be the subject of the consultations.
Surely the Minister will agree that special consideration should be given to the footwear industry because many factories have closed, many people have lost their jobs and other factories are in danger of closing? Is the Minister aware that this country is, at the present time, being flooded with both English and Italian shoes and unfortunately the more affluent our people become the more inclined they are to buy from abroad instead of to buy Irish.
I appreciate the Deputy's views in connection with the footwear industry. I share his views with regard to discouraging people from the purchase of imported articles when they can buy Irish goods of equal or better quality.
As I said in the reply it would be undesirable at the present time for me to indicate which industries are the subject of consultations but that does not mean the footwear industry either is or is not in that category.
We have had to fight for our freedom but now we have it we are inclined to buy foreign produce the more affluent we become. The Government should start a vigorous "Buy Irish" campaign, helped by the county councils and political parties. If this is not done many more of our people will lose their jobs.
I welcome any co-operation I can get in this regard. As the Deputy is aware, the NAIDA are responsible for this campaign and a certain amount of money is provided in my estimates for it. I propose to have an early meeting with that association with a view to seeing if we can put fresh impetus into the campaign. I should like it to be a "Buy and Sell Irish" campaign, because I am very anxious to get across to the distributors their responsibilities in this regard also.
Members of all political Parties, the trade unions, the NFA and all organisations should combine together to encourage the buying of Irish manufacture. They could do this good work very well. The sands are running out.
I welcome any suggestions and I will examine any proposal anybody puts up which may help.