asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will ascertain from the suppliers the country of origin of the 400 pairs of special type sports boots which were supplied for the Department of Defence in 1973-75 and which were not made in Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sports Boots.
3.
It has been ascertained from the suppliers that the countries of origin of the boots in question were Britain, Taiwan, "Continental Europe" and Japan.
It took 22 days to tell us that 400 pairs of boots for the Army were made in——
That is not a question.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, which I did not catch——
If the Deputy wishes I will repeat it.
Yes.
It has been ascertained from the suppliers that the countries of origin of the boots in question were Britain, Taiwan, "Continental Europe" and Japan.
Arising out of that reply, the Army will be very glad to know they have sports boots now from Taiwan, "Continental Europe", Japan and Britain.
This is not a question.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, and this is a very important question, can the Minister say if the personnel in the footwear industry here would be competent to make a similar type of boot and, if so, why were they disregarded and would the Minister also indicate why it took 22 days to get this information?
The whole point here is that this type of boot is not made in Ireland. Therefore, if the Army had to have these specialised boots for its boxing and basketball teams, they had to be obtained from outside Ireland since they are not made here. I am sure the Deputy would not wish our boxing teams to have to go into the ring in Wellingtons or some other form of boot.
The sooner the Minister gets the boot from the public the better. Arising out of that reply, I feel the Irish footwear——
A question, Deputy.
Arising from the Minister's reply, does the Minister feel that Irish footwear manufactures are not competent to manufacture the type of sports boots he has imported from Taiwan, "Continental Europe" and Japan and would the Minister further explain what he means by "Continental Europe"? I would suggest to the Minister this stuff is dumped in.
I cannot allow the Deputy to continue in this manner.
This is a dumping operation, a very serious dumping operation.
Will the Deputy obey the Chair? The Deputy will pursue this matter by legitimate supplementary question——
I do not think the Deputy knows how to do that.
——and by no other means.
In the period the Department are concerned with more than 100,000 pairs of boots and shoes were ordered by my Department in Ireland and procured from Ireland; 400 pairs were procured from overseas. That overseas order is 0.4 per cent of the total. In the corresponding period in 1970-72, 67,965 pairs were procured in Ireland and more than 450 pairs from outside Ireland. Under this Government 0.4 per cent of the total has been ordered from outside Ireland and, for equally valid reasons, the previous Government ordered 0.66 per cent from outside Ireland. Will the Deputy ever give up the nonsense which is going on here?
Further arising from the Minister's reply and his bingo session—he is throwing out a great many figures—does he consider that the Irish footwear industry are not capable of producing this type of shoe? Previously he indicated that 400 pairs of Saville Row shoes were slipped in through his Department for serving members of the Defence Forces.
If the Deputy persists I will pass on to the next question.
What does the Minister mean by "Continental Europe"?
The Deputy has already asked these questions on a number of occasions. He may not repeat himself.
In view of the unreliable reply, I wish to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy in the matter.
I would like to make one general comment.
The Minister may not say anything because I have been told to sit down.
We want foreigners to buy the goods we produce, including footwear. The kind of hypocritical shenanigans the Opposition are going on with in this matter are not of a nature to help our exports and they should remember that.
Deputy Dowling gave notice of this question. He asked if the Minister would ascertain from the suppliers the country of origin. "Continental Europe" is not a country. We do not want lectures on education——
A question, Deputy, please.
As regards the question——
I want to know what countries are covered in "Continental Europe".
As regards the Deputy's question on——
That is a plain question.
If the Deputy will allow me to answer his plain question, instead of shouting at me, I will try to do that. My Department do not, as the Deputy must be aware, import directly. We are, therefore, dependent for information on sources on the stockists who are not able to break down this description "Continental Europe". I do not see that it makes a pin's difference what country in Continental Europe they were imported from.
In view of the fact that we are a member of the EEC it would be interesting if the Minister could tell us——
The Chair has no control over this matter.
The information is not available.
We must have this information because if they come from outside the EEC we must pay duty.
This is leading to futile argument.
The Minister should be able to tell us.
Question No. 4.
I object to these educational lectures from the most ignorant Minister for Posts and Telegraphs we have ever had.
I am calling Question No. 4.
Does the Deputy remember the guns he imported from Czechoslovakia?
They have forgotten that.
(Interruptions.)
Order.