Vol. 500 No. 5
47 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the role, if any, his Department is taking in regard to seeking support among other EU countries for the Irish campaign for the retention of duty free facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4376/99]
As the issue of duty free is a taxation matter, it falls, in the first instance, within the remit of the ECOFIN Council and therefore of my colleague, the Minister for Finance.
The Department of Foreign Affairs including, through its Embassies in the capitals of other member states, and the Permanent Representation to the European Union, has availed of appropriate opportunities to advance the case for a re-examination of the decision to abolish duty free. Several of our embassies have also been involved in assisting and facilitating industry representatives in establishing contacts in other member states. I would add that when the matter arose at a discussion over lunch at the General Affairs Council last December – the last time it was discussed at that level – Ireland was again one of the member states to press for the issue to be re-examined.
