asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that there has been a considerable reduction in the output of Irish woollen mills in consequence of the cessation of the export trade, due to the withdrawal of the export bounty, and what steps the Minister proposes to take, by way of restoring the export bounty or otherwise, to remedy the state of affairs complained of.

I am not aware that there has been any reduction in the output of Irish woollen mills. The position in this industry is that the total production has been steadily increasing during the last five years and is at the moment double what it was in 1931.