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Dáil Éireann - Volume 253 - 05 May, 1971

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Roofing Sheets Imports.

36. Mr. Coughlan asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the quantity and value of translucent corrugated roofing sheets imported in the last six months; the countries from which they were imported; and if these imports were covered by duty-free licences.

37. Mr. Coughlan asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that imports of translucent corrugated roofing sheets are causing grave concern to Irish manufacturers; and if he will take steps to limit these imports.

Minister for Finance (Mr. Colley) (for the Minister for Industry and Commerce): With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to answer Questions Nos. 36 and 37 together.

The home manufacturers of PVC translucent corrugated roofing sheets, to which I assume the questions refer, ceased production temporarily in September, 1970, for the purpose of re-equipping their factory. Production was resumed on 1st April, 1971.

Within the past six months, during the period while supplies were not [1204] available from home sources, it was necessary to grant licences remitting the duty on PVC sheets being imported to meet current needs. The total quantity for which such licences were granted was 75 tons. The issue of duty-free licences has, of course, now ceased.

I have no information as to the total value or origin of the imports under licence or as to whether there were duty-paid imports of translucent corrugated sheeting during the period.

Mr. Coogan: Can the Minister state who got the licences?

Mr. Colley: No. Those who applied for them. I could not tell the Deputy who they were.

Mr. Tully: Can the Minister say what country the materials came from?

Mr. Colley: No, I have said I do not know. We do not know that. We only know the licences that were issued.

Mr. Tully: A substantial amount is coming from Britain and I assume they do not need a licence because they are now on a par with us?

Mr. Colley: No, in this case they are still duty payable. That is why duty-free licences were given.

Mr. Corish: Did the Minister say he does not know from what country or countries they came?

Mr. Colley: That is right. The licence is given to import free of duty.

Mr. Corish: It does not specify the country?

Mr. Colley: No, it does not.

Mr. Corish: Is that not peculiar.

Mr. Colley: No, that is normal.

Mr. O'Sullivan: Would the Minister tell us the name of the firm which is making those sheets at the moment?

Mr. Coogan: O'Brien?

Mr. Colley: O'Brien Plastics Ltd.

(Interruptions.)

Mr. Colley: Is there some particular significance in that?

[1205] Mr. Coogan: There is. We are beginning to see through it now.

Mr. Colley: Do tell us.

Mr. Corish: Surely the Minister and the Department of Industry and Commerce would have to be concerned as to what country these goods came from because there is always the balance of trade as between Ireland and other countries? Surely we would not seek to import these things from countries with which we have an unfavourable trading balance and swell the trading balance?

Mr. Colley: What is involved here is that for this limited period there was no production at home. Therefore, for current needs it was necessary to import and the duty-free licences were given to meet that temporary situation. In relation to the question of where the goods would come from, to involve the Department in dictating that in relation to each application for a licence would, I think, be undesirable and impracticable.

Mr. Corish: I do not think so.

Mr. Harte Is the Minister aware that, as I understand the position, when imports are being brought into the country a certificate of origin must be produced and that in many cases preferential treatment is given to the United Kingdom? Was this not asked for in this case?

Mr. Colley: If goods are being imported with remissions of duty then the question of a certificate of origin to establish preferential rates only arises if the goods are coming from the UK or Canada.

Mr. Harte: In other words you do not care whether it is British manufactured or European or Eastern?

Mr. Colley: What is involved here is the meeting of the requirements of the market, the current requirements when there was no home production.

Mr. Corish: And to hell with our trade balance.

An Ceann Comhairle: Question No. 38.

[1206] Mr. Harte: Is it normal for the Department of Industry and Commerce or the Revenue Commissioners not to ask for a certificate of origin?

Mr. Colley: We are only concerned with a certificate of origin where it is relevant and where goods are being imported with remission of duty it is not relevant unless they come from the UK or Canada or unless, of course, the goods come under an overall restriction such as there is in regard to certain goods from East European and Far Eastern countries but these are exceptional.

Mr. Harte: And this does not come under tariff headings?

Mr. Coogan: No crisis whatsoever.

Mr. Colley: It does come under a tariff heading in the normal way and that is why there was a duty-free licence required.

An Ceann Comhairle: Question No. 38.

Dr. FitzGerald: The Minister has mentioned the question of imports from the Far East or Eastern Europe where there are value limits on our imports. Would these imports count for those value limits or not? Would those value limits govern them or not?

Mr. Colley: No.

Dr. FitzGerald: No?

Mr. Colley: May I answer the question?

Dr. FitzGerald: Please.

Mr. Colley: There are two kinds of restrictions of that kind. I introduced them because they are exceptions to what I was saying in general but they are related to certain kinds of goods which are specified in the orders concerned. As far as I know, these translucent corrugated sheets do not come into it. I would think it most unlikely.

An Ceann Comhairle: Question No. 38.

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