Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 13 Mar 1975

Vol. 279 No. 4

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - International Trade Fairs.

3.

Mr. Lemass

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the international trade fairs at which Ireland will be represented this year; and whether the Irish delegations will consist entirely of Irish people.

Mr. Bruton

I assume that the Deputy's question relates to trade fair participation aimed at the development of exports. Statutory responsibility for the promotion, assistance and development of exports rests with Córas Tráchtála and the planning and organisation for participation in international trade fairs is primarily a matter for that body. With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to have circulated with the Official Report a tabular statement listing the major international trade fairs andli = "1"onal events involving Córas Tráchtála participation this year.

The question of trade representation on the Irish stands is a matter for the industry concerned. I am not in a position to say whether these representatives would all be Irish nationals.

Following is the statement:

Trade Fair and Exhibitions Programme, 1975.

Dates	Title	Venue
January	5-9	Atlantic City China and Glass Show	Atlantic City, USA
	8-12	Home Furnishings Fair	Frankfurt, West Germany
February	23-27	International Spring Fair	Frankfurt, West Germany
	24-28	IMBEX	London
March	10-13	Western Tools and Metal WESTEC	Los Angeles, USA
	15-19	Interfach	Hanover, West Germany
April	6-10	International Fashion Fair	Munich, West Germany
	7-10	International Tool and Manufacturing	Detroit, USA
	9-11	International Fashion Fair	London
	19-20	International Consumer Goods Fair	Brno, Czechoslovakia
	14-17	Northern Materials Handling Exhibition	Manchester
May	4-7	Supermarket Convention	Dallas, USA
	12-15	Interstoff	Frankfurt, West Germany
	12-16	National Production Show	Toronto, Canada
	19-24	Scottish Material Handling	Glasgow
June	3-5	Texpo	New York
	4-7	Interzum	Cologne, West Germany
	17-20	Electrical Engineering Exhibition	Manchester
August	24-27	International Autumn Fair	Frankfurt, West Germany
	26-28	National Hardware Show	Chicago, USA
September	13-18	ANUGA	Cologne, West Germany
	16-19	Off Shore Europe	Aberdeen, Scotland
	28-30	Spoga	Cologne, West Germany
	23-25	London International Footwear Fair	London
November		Technical Week	Moscow
	4-6	Interior Design Show	Toronto, Canada
	4-7	Housing Managers Exhibition	Brighton, England
	12-21	Interbuild	London
	18-21	Interstoff	Frankfurt, West Germany

Mr. Haughey

Do I understand the Parliamentary Secretary correctly, that his reply is confined to the activities of Córas Tráchtála?

Mr. Bruton

Yes—trade fair participation.

Mr. Haughey

Surely we have the situation where other State agencies, particularly CBF and I think also An Bord Bainne, mount exhibitions abroad and participate in the sort of international trade fairs to which the question refers?

Mr. Bruton

I take it that that information could be obtained by means of a parliamentary question to the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries who is responsible for CBF.

Mr. Haughey

I appeal to the courtesies of the House. If the Minister for Industry and Commerce purported to answer Deputy Lemass's question fully, he should have adverted to these other bodies or else indicated that they were the responsibility of some other Minister. I do not think it is treating the House with great courtesy to deal with this question in the manner in which it has been dealt.

Mr. Bruton

I can assure the Deputy that no discourtesy was intended and if he wants the information in relation to the activities of other Departments in relation to this matter, I will endeavour to get it for him.

Mr. Haughey

It is more a question of the Parliamentary Secretary informing himself rather than me.

Mr. Bruton

The Deputy is the man who asked the question.