asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce when he proposes to introduce the import controls referred to recently by him.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Import Controls.
18.
I did not say that I would necessarily be introducing import controls. It will be appreciated that the restriction of imports has implications in relation to our international obligations, including the obligations arising from our membership of the EEC. The whole matter is at present being examined to see if there are any measures which the Government might take to help industry in the present difficult situation.
Would the Minister agree that he gave the impression that the Government were or, at least, he was contemplating the imposition of some form of import control? Would he also agree that at that time he was well aware of the implications which he mentioned now, membership of the EEC and other restrictions which might operate in regard to the imposition of imports controls. Furthermore, is he aware that the statement he has just made about the question being examined is totally contrary to the statement made by the Minister for Finance to the effect that such a move was not being contemplated?
There are three supplementary questions involved here. I do not accept I gave the impression that I intended to introduce import controls. The relevant sentence from the Press report said: "I find that we have import controls, not as desirable but certainly as thinkable." I do not think that implies one is actually doing it; I think it implies it is a matter to be examined.
As I said in my reply, the matter is under consideration. I indicated in the quotation when I used the phrase "not as desirable"— that is from the original report of a speech I made at the Footwear Fair — that I was indeed aware of the difficulties, but one has to contemplate those difficulties. In regard to the final question, I am not familiar with the statement of the Minister for Finance which Deputy Colley is quoting but, if he puts down a question on the matter, we can have it clarified. I am not aware of any such statement by the Minister for Finance. The question which is certainly difficult—there are arguments on both sides—is under active consideration.
Is the Minister telling us that he is not aware of any statement by the Minister for Finance——
That would seem to be a separate matter.
——to the effect that the Government were not contemplating the imposition of import control? Is the Minister saying he is not aware of any such statement by the Minister for Finance?
Actually I am not aware of it. It may be that I am——
Of course the Minister is aware of it. He must have read it as we did.
Do Ministers not read each others statements?
It got full publicity in the papers.
We can have this clarified. I am not aware of a statement that we are not considering this question.
Question No. 19.
Would the Minister agree that such a statement from the Minister for Finance would be contradicted by what the Minister for Industry and Commerce is saying now about the matter being considered?
We are in a hypothetical situation. I should like to find out exactly what statement by the Minister for Finance the Deputy is referring to. I would have to understand exactly what it is he is attributing to the Minister for Finance before I could offer an opinion.
Did the Minister say "hypothetical" or "hyprocritical"?