asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy by how much the "Buy Irish" Campaign has fallen short of its target to change 3 per cent of consumer expenditure from foreign to Irish goods.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Buy Irish Campaign.
10.
The Buy Irish campaign is a three-year programme for the promotion of Irish goods and has a target of channelling the equivalent of an additional 3 per cent of personal consumer expenditure to Irish goods with a similar increase in industrial purchasing. A final assessment of the effectiveness of the programme cannot therefore be made until some time after the completion of the three-year period.
A review has been carried out of the operations of the programme during the first year and the results of this review indicated that the programme was progressing satisfactorily towards achieving its target.
In the first year the programme aimed at creating a public awareness of the importance of buying Irish products and the quality and value for money represented by such products. The review showed that this phase of the programme was very successful. It is gratifying that a survey by independent consultants showed that the Guaranteed Irish symbol was practically universally recognised and that a high proportion of respondents stated that the symbol influenced their purchasing decisions.
In the current year the programme has entered a second phase which involves capitalising on the awareness which has been created by persuading retailers to stock more Irish products and by encouraging manufacturers to pay more attention to the home market.
What the Minister has said is uncharacteristic waffle. Would the Minister agree that the estimate I made in the Dáil 18 months ago, that in the first nine months of this Government imports constituted a 3 per cent share of consumer expenditure, is not inaccurate and that a trend towards an increase in the share at present held by foreign goods is not taking place and therefore the Minister's remarks are irrelevant to the question?
The review which I talked about states that an examination of the trends of imports in 1978 indicates that the work of the Irish Goods Council has had a substantial impact in the year under review.
What impact? What is the change in share of consumer goods in total consumer expenditure?
The growth rate of personal expenditure on consumer goods and services declined from 21.5 per cent to 17.3 per cent for the period 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978, while the growth rate of consumption goods imports, declined at a faster rate—39 per cent in 1975-76 and 28.3 per cent in 1977-78. The growth rate of all imports declined from a level of 32.2 per cent in 1977 to 19.9 per cent in 1978.
Would the Minister give us a figure up to date, instead of these?
I gave the level for 1977—that it had declined from 32.2 per cent to 19.9 per cent in 1978. They are the latest figures.
Would the Minister be able to state why no use was made of Christmas 1977 and why this campaign did not begin until March 1978?
Is that the Deputy's question?
I know I shall not get an answer to that. May I ask the Minister the figures for the number of extra jobs which will be available before Christmas is over?
That is a separate question.
I explained to the Deputy that it was a three-year programme and at the end of three years it would be possible to judge how many extra jobs had been created as a result of the campaign.
Was it not possible for the Minister to judge before the last election when we were told that 10,000 jobs would be created by now. How many of those Irish jobs are attributable to the switch?
The Deputy is being argumentative.
Every time I attempt to put a question to the Minister and try to concentrate I am being sniped at by your good self.
If the Deputy asks relevant questions, the Chair will give him every possible help. There is nothing in the question which relates to what the Deputy is now putting to the Minister.
Are the Government satisfied with the 3 per cent switch in consumer expenditure to Irish goods? In the election manifesto there was reference to 10,000 jobs.
Would the Deputy really say that that was a question?
No. I am trying to explain myself.
The Deputy is making it very difficult for the Chair.
The Chair is making it very difficult for me because every time I try to get the Minister's attention I am being foiled by your good self.
The Chair is finding it very difficult when a Deputy makes a statement and then insists that he should get an answer.
I am trying to explain why what I asked is relevant. It arises out of the very same set of words in the election manfiesto that Deputy Horgan set down in his question. How many of those 10,000 jobs promised to be produced are now there?
A straight question.
Anyway, the Minister does not know. Would it be wrong to say that not a single demonstrable job is there?