asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if agreement has been reached with the British Government on bilateral action to help the footwear industry during the review year ended 1st July, 1971; and, if not, if he will take unilateral action under another section of the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement to help that industry.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Footwear Industry.
51.
Although consultations with the British authorities under article 1 (5) of the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement are not yet complete, it has been arranged that the tariff cut on leather footwear due to take place on 1st July, 1971, will be suspended until the report of the committee on industrial progress on this industry becomes available in a few months. Consultations will then be resumed in the light of the fuller information available to both sides.
How does the Minister reconcile his reply today with a reply he gave to me last week in which he indicated that the footwear industry was not one of the sectors on which negotiations were to take place bilaterally before the 1st of July?
I made a reply to that effect last week?
Yes.
I should like the Deputy to quote the reference. I could not have given that reply. I refused to indicate what sectors of industry were included in the negotiations. I did not say that any particular sectors were included or were not included. The Deputy is under a misconception in relation to any reply that I could have given last week.
In that case I shall have to go to the Library because I understood the Minister to indicate that footwear was not one of the sectors of industry included in the bilateral negotiations. I ask the Minister now if the footwear industry is included?
If it was not included I would have not been in a position to make the announcement.
In that case I am taking it that footwear is included and that the tariffs are being suspended.
That is what I have been saying.
I am calling Question No. 52.
It is not right to allege that the Minister was telling lies.