andMr. Molloy asked the Minister for Lands the total value of foreign manufactured goods purchased in 1975 through Irish agents by his Department and any State-sponsored bodies under his control, excluding goods not manufactured in Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Foreign Goods Purchases.
33.
, Cavan): As I stated in my reply to Question No. 11 on 5th February last, apart from items not made in this country, practically all the manufactured goods purchased by my Department are Irish. At this stage it would not be possible to isolate such few foreign items as might have been purchased in 1975 but I can assure the Deputy that the total value of such items would be so small as to be negligible.
There is no State-sponsored body under the aegis of my Department.
34.
andMr. Molloy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the total value of foreign manufactured goods purchased in 1975 through Irish agents by his Department and any State-sponsored bodies under his control, excluding goods not manufactured in Ireland.
It is not possible to publish precise information as detailed records are not kept of the origin and price of all goods purchased. From the information it was possible to extract, such purchases by my Department for use at headquarters and by the agency for personal service overseas were negligible. Purchases by offices abroad were dealt with in my reply of 5th February last.
35.
andMr. Molloy asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the total value of foreign manufactured goods purchased in 1975 through Irish agents by his Department and any State-sponsored bodies under his control, excluding goods not manufactured in Ireland.
The figure for my Department was about £24,000 and the corresponding figure for RTE was about £15,000.
Could the Minister indicate if there is any check on foreign imported goods and their country of origin? I received a reply from the Minister last week in relation to the importation of 400 pairs of sports boots for the Army in which he said that the country of origin was unknown. I should like the Minister to indicate if there are special concessions for the Department of Posts and Telegraphs as against other importers who had to certify the country of origin. Were these boots dumped on the market without a check in relation to their country of origin? Is there any check on the dumping of goods which are purchased by the Department who are the purchasing authority for other Departments?
These appear to be three entirely separate questions. I suggest that if the Deputy wants information in this area he should put down his own questions.
In relation to the importation of foreign manufactured goods surely it is reasonable to know if the Minister can certify the country of origin of all goods imported by the Department of Posts and Telegraphs who are the purchasing authority for other Departments?
We are having repetition.
Were these goods dumped on this market?
Dumping would be a matter for another Minister.
That would be a matter for another Minister. I should like to point out, to set this whole matter in proportion, that £24,000 worth of foreign manufactured goods were purchased by my Department in the way stated while £10.57 million worth of Irish goods were purchased during the same period. That puts the matter into perspective.
Question No. 36.
I asked the Minister about the country of origin of the goods. Is there any check in the Minister's Department in relation to the country of origin of the goods purchased by the Department of Posts and Telegraphs?
That is a separate question. Question No. 36.
Surely that is a reasonable question to ask.
I have allowed some latitude in relation to this question.
Is the country of origin known in relation to all goods purchased by the Department of Posts and Telegraphs?
I have nothing to add to my previous answer.
Does the figure given by the Minister in his reply refer to his own Department only or does it represent the total purchases?
That is the total. That includes goods purchased for other Departments by my Department.
May I ask the Minister if his Department are still ordering the printing in England of labels which had been previously printed in Cork?
That is a separate question.
I put down a question and this relates to foreign-manufactured goods. I thought the Minister might confirm whether or not this is so.
I do not propose to answer any kind of miscellaneous questions the Deputy chooses to bring up.
Arrogance.
That is covering up.
(Interruptions.)
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.