asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether a number of telephone "silence cabinets" manufactured abroad have recently been imported by his Department; whether the importation of more cabinets is contemplated; whether estimates of the cost of such cabinets manufactured in Ireland were obtained from Irish firms or from the Post Office factory; and, if so, whether there was any, or sufficient, difference in cost or any other reason to justify the importation of cabinets.

It is the case that telephone silence cabinets manufactured outside the Saorstát have had to be imported for use in this country. Recently, when a supply of over 50 such cabinets was required, forms of tender, specifications and drawings were forwarded to all firms in the Saorstát likely to be able to manufacture such cabinets, including the Post Office factory. The lowest Irish tender received, even conceding the usual preferential allowance, was, however, so much in excess of the London firm's price that the Government Contracts Committee had no option but to accept the latter.

The question of installing requisite machinery in the Post Office factory for the manufacture of cabinets is at present under consideration.

Will the Minister say whether the difference in price exceeded 12½ per cent.?

Yes, very much more.

Is the Minister aware that the firm that is, presumably, to receive this contract is on the black list of the trades' unions in London, and that that may cause difficulty in the erection here?

I am not aware.

That is a fact.