asked the Taoiseach the quantity and the value of wallpaper imported into this country in 1978 and 1979.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wallpaper Imports.
1.
Imports of wallpaper in the year 1978 amounted to 3,300 tonnes valued at £2.9 million and in the year 1979 amounted to 3,900 tonnes valued at £3.8 million.
Would the Minister and his Government be interested in and concerned about this figure in view of the fact that there are wallpaper factories here which should be capable of supplying this market and substituting home production for these imports if they were allowed to? In many cases they cannot because there are restrictions on them.
I share the Deputy's concern on this point. People should buy more Irish wallpaper. We import most of it from Britain and from several other countries. I would express the hope that people would be more selective and buy the Irish made paper.
If I were to give the Minister details of a factory in Clonakilty in my own constituency which is restricted from selling on the home market because of IDA restrictions, would he bring it to the attention of the Government so that these restrictions would be lifted to enable greater employment to be provided in that factory and imports to be reduced?
If the Deputy gives me the information I will investigate it very fully.