asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if he intends to change his policy with regard to aid for the manufacture of concrete products in view of funding as reported in Grogan Associates report.
28.
Written Answers. - Building Products.
24.
asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if he is aware of the damage done to the building and quarrying materials supply industry in the Border area due to unfair competition and grants support to the industry in Northern Ireland; if he will agree that these grants are contrary to the spirit of the EC concept and as such the industry in the Border area should receive some form of counter-balance in order to compete on a fair basis; the plans, if any, his Department have; if he will insist that all bills of quantities for public work must originate from and be of Irish manufacture; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 28 together. The problems of the building and quarrying materials supply industry in the Border area arise because of the recession in the construction industry and the increase of imports of concrete and quarry products from Northern Ireland. These problems are well known to me, and my Department in consultation with the other Departments concerned are taking all possible steps, within the rules and regulations of the EC, to alleviate the difficulties of these sectors.
The grant aid for the concrete and quarrying sectors in Northern Ireland which was highlighted in the Grogan report has been terminated. Consequently the question of introducing some form of a counter-balancing grant does not arise. Indeed it would be counter-productive to consider such a move for a sector in which there is severe overcapacity at present.
With regard to the question of bills of quantities for public work, any requirement that only Irish manufactured materials be used in public construction contracts would be in breach of EC Regulations which prohibit public authorities discriminating against products manufactured in other member states.