asked the Minister for Labour if, in view of the "Buy Irish" campaign, he has advised all State-sponsored bodies under the aegis of his Department to support the campaign; and if he will indicate the amount of foreign purchases of manufactured goods, on contract or otherwise, by his Department and by the State-sponsored bodies in the past 12 months excluding goods which are not manufactured in Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Foreign Goods Purchases.
12.
The State-sponsored bodies under the aegis of my Department are aware of the "Buy Irish" campaign.
As regards the second part of the question, my Department are making the necessary inquiries and I will communicate with the Deputy.
Are the Department and the State-sponsored bodies under the Minister's control aware of it because the Minister told them about it, or are they aware of it from the advertising campaign carried out by the Government? Has the Minister advised them personally?
Yes, of course.
In what form?
In this whole matter there is a possibility of a commercial backlash in other markets with which we are trading.
Do not bring that record in. That is nonsense.
The Deputy can rest assured that the areas under my control are aware of the necessity to buy Irish.
When will this information be available and when will he communicate with me?
As soon as possible.
How can the Minister tell us he has not got the information sought by Deputy MacSharry in this very important question? Does he realise that a far more important problem in our community, despite any backlash, is the provision and maintenance of jobs for our people and the creation of new jobs.
The Deputy may not continue to make a speech.
If the Minister has not got the information he should resign immediately. Deputy MacSharry deserves an answer.
I recall when the Opposition were in Government, before we had any international trading obligations, the number of times they purchased abroad — time and time again.
There was no unemployment.
It was 6 per cent, the highest in Europe.
Is the Minister aware that in this House we have imported goods supplied by the Stationery Office? Down in the photostat room we are supplied with drawing pins or paper clips made in Czechoslovakia, and supplied right under the noses of the Ministers on those benches. Will he do anything about it?
If the Deputy is telling me there are imported goods in this country I take that for granted.
In this House.
I do not understand what new information the Deputy is giving me.
The Minister does not care.
I want to make some progress in dealing with other questions.
Is the Minister saying he is supporting the present Government policy in his Department and other Departments of importing from abroad materials and equipment which can be manufactured and purchased here?
I know how barren the case is for the Opposition. They can beat this little tin drum as often as they like, but this Government is committed to keeping as many Irish workers as possible at work.