asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he is aware that footwear being supplied to ESB employees has "made in Italy" stamped on it; and if it is possible to have this semi-State body supply Irish footwear in future.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Protective Footwear for ESB Employees.
23.
I am informed by the ESB that they purchase protective leather boots from an Irish manufacturer. These boots, which are manufactured in Ireland, include preformed sole sections which are purchased by the manufacturer from Italy. I understand from the board that these are the only suitable boots made in Ireland.
Is the Minister telling the House that there is no company in the country capable of making a pair of boots for ESB workers?
In fact, the company concerned, doing this work for the ESB, is in a constituency adjacent to the Deputy's, in Dundalk, in fact.
That does not make any difference as far as I am concerned. If we cannot make soles of boots in this country and must import them already made from Italy it is a reflection on the Minister in view of the fact that thousands of footwear industry workers are unemployed.
This is the only operation of this kind done in Ireland and it is giving very gainful employment in Dundalk, I am glad to say.
The Minister must be aware that the country is being flooded with Italian-made shoes.
This is the only operation of this particular kind and it is being done very effectively and very efficiently in Dundalk, thanks to the high standard of Dundalk workers.
But it should be of Irish manufacture.