asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce what industrial products will be affected under any agreement reached with the UK Government under the terms of Article 1, section 5 of the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement; and what proportion of manufacturing output is accounted for by such products.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement.
52.
The discussions initiated with the UK Government in accordance with the provisions of Article 1 (5) of the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement have not yet been completed. So far, agreement has been reached only on interim measures to prevent possible injury to certain Irish industries while the discussions are in progress. The products affected by these interim measures are certain iron and steel products, certain agricultural machinery, certain domestic electrical appliances, aluminium hollow-ware, blankets, mobile homes, joinery, leather footwear, furniture, ropes and cordage and brushes and brooms. These industries, and others not the subject of interim measures, will be discussed further during the coming months.
It is not possible to say at this stage what proportion of manufacturing output will be accounted for by products about which agreement may eventually be reached with the UK Government.
May I ask the Minister what proportion of Irish industry has been protected by the arrangements reached in respect of the list he has read out?
I have said that it is not possible at this stage to say what proportion will be accounted for.
What branch of industry will be affected by the agreement reached already as announced in the Minister's reply and as reported in today's newspapers?
That figure has not yet been worked out.
Why not? Surely that should be a simple matter.
It is not a simple figure.
The Minister cannot do multiplication.
Addition actually is what is required.
My understanding is that it is not easy to work out the overall sum.
Would the Minister like me to explain how? You add up the total output of the figures in question in the Census of Industrial Production for the latest year for which they are available and you divide that by the total amount of manufacturing output. Could the Minister do that, does he think?
I presume I could do that.
Mr. FitzGerald
The Minister might do it if he has got seven days to do it. Perhaps next week he could give it. He will have seven days to do it.
That is the Deputy's ultimatum, is it?
I am just asking does the Minister think he could do it in seven days? I am not asking him to do it on "Seven Days".
If the Deputy will put the question down for Tuesday he will get the reply.
Could I ask the Minister to explain——
Question No. 53.
I am sorry. I just want to ask the Minister could he explain——
Acting Chairman
I would ask the Minister not to answer any questions after the next question has been called. Question No. 53.
Well, I must say— dear me!