asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if the proposed legislation in connection with EEC entry will include the repeal of the legislation relating to dumping.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dumping Legislation.
47.
The legislation required in connection with Ireland's accession to EEC will not involve the repeal of our anti-dumping legislation.
Is there any indication as yet from the Community that after 1978 we will have to rely on the Community regulations and that we will not be in a position to impose our legislation, currently in operation, in respect of dumping?
No. In the case of dumping from third countries, article 26 of the EEC anti-dumping regulations will apply and this will enable us to take unilateral action against dumping except for a limited range of goods, mainly agriculture based goods.
Is it not the case, as indicated in a reply by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, that our legislation against dumping can no longer be applied vis-á-vis the EEC countries on the technical ground that it will not be dumping after the end of the transitional period? Is the Minister's reply not a bit misleading in the light of that fact?
I do not accept that. There is no contradiction. There is no conflict between our replies.
The Minister's reply was misleading.
I was asked if it was necessary to change our——
I did not ask that. I asked if we would be obliged to repeal our legislation in relation to dumping. Is the Minister aware that the Minister for Foreign Affairs specifically said that at the end of the transitional period it will no longer be possible to invoke our legislation in relation to dumping from EEC countries?
Therefore it will have to be repealed in that respect, and to that extent, and to that effect, and the Minister's reply was therefore misleading.
I do not accept that.
Would the Minister explain himself?
I do not want to say that I am totally incredulous of the Minister's reply. I want to give him some latitude. Would the Minister accept that the Minister for Foreign Affairs has gone on record clearly as saying that our legislation in relation to dumping cannot be invoked by us after the end of the transitional period?
Vis-á-vis the EEC countries.
Therefore the legislation will have to be repealed. I have an open mind on the necessity for that but the Minister should "come clean".
Does the Minister accept that?
I accept anything the Minister for Foreign Affairs said.
Does the Minister not agree that we will be governed by EEC legislation in relation to dumping at the end of the transitional period? In fact, complaints in this regard will have to be made in Brussels and not here.
I accept that when we are in at the end of the transitional period we will be subject to the dumping legislation.
It is not referred to as dumping legislation.
We will be unable to apply our own legislation vis-á-vis the EEC Countries? Say it. Be a man and say it.
I am a man whether I say it or not.
Question No. 48.
It takes a long time to extract a straight answer.
Some Deputies are under the impression that you have to talk at length to be a man.