It is not possible to furnish the information asked for by the Deputy since imports are brought to account according to the headings of the Official Import List which does not separately distinguish "chairs". Chairs made of wood are brought to account under the headings "Wood furniture—New" or "Wood furniture—Secondhand" as appropriate. Chairs of iron or steel may be included under "Iron and steel furniture (including filing cabinets)— Office, commercial and library" or under "Iron and steel furniture (including filing cabinets)—Other," and chairs made of other metals in "Metal furniture, not elsewhere specified—Other". Chairs of wicker work etc., fall under the heading "Furniture and fixtures, not elsewhere specified, including wicker work, plastics, etc." An examination of the customs documents revealed that the descriptions given therein are not sufficient to enable the information to be obtained by a special compilation.

Arising out of that reply, is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that chairs made from wood are being imported and are being sold here in the City of Dublin? These chairs are made in Czechoslovakia.

We are not so aware.

Make inquiries and you will see it is a fact.

Could not the Parliamentary Secretary give an assurance that this Government are not buying any chairs from abroad?

I did not suggest that the Government were buying these chairs. They are being imported by private firms and the private firms are paying duty on them. I am not making any suggestion against the Government as regards the importation of these chairs.