asked the Taoiseach if he will state in respect of the past five years the quantities and value of imported footwear and clothing.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Footwear and Clothing Imports.
1.
The value of imports of clothing In each of the years from 1966 to 1970 was £3.2 million, £4.3 million, £6.5 million, £9.6 million and £11.7 million respectively. Imports of footwear in the same years were valued at £0.5 million, £0.6 million, £0.8 million, £1.5 million and £2.4 million, respectively. It is not possible to give figures for the total quantities of clothing or footwear because the quantities of the various categories are not all measured in the same units and consequently they cannot be added together. The quantities of individual categories of clothing and footwear for each year are published in the annual publication "External Trade Statistics" and in the monthly publication "Trade Statistics of Ireland" for December of each year.
Can the Taoiseach give any reasons why imports have teen increasing so rapidly in recent years?
I could not, offhand. If the Deputy would like to ask another question I can endeavour to get the information for him.
Has the Taoiseach any breakdown of what came from Great Britain and what came from the Continent of that £11.7 million?
I should imagine it is possible to get that information but I have not got it at the moment.
Is the Taoiseach aware of the harm done to our industrialists through these imports and of the number of people losing jobs in factories as a result?
I agree that our people ought to buy Irish more than they do.
Would the Taoiseach not agree more efforts should be made to sell Irish goods?
One is complementary to the other.
Would the Taoiseach not agree that the vast increase in imports from Britain is as a result of the Free Trade Area Agreement?
I do not agree with the Deputy.
That is a statistical question.
The "Buy Irish" poster were printed in Holland.