asked the Taoiseach the quantity of shirts imported (a) from Korea and (b) from other third countries in the first quarter of 1975.

The numbers of shirts imported (a) from South Korea and (b) from other third countries in the first quarter of 1975 were 67,000 and 110,000 respectively. There were no imports of shirts from North Korea.

Has the Parliamentary Secretary got the value of the two figures?

I have not got the value.

In view of those very substantial figures, will the Parliamentary Secretary urge that some steps should be taken to deal with this dumping?

That would be a matter for another Ministry.

I will direct the Deputy's remarks to the relevant official quarter.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say, after six months or more have elapsed, has the Minister for Industry and Commerce yet reached any decisions or conclusions in respect of these large imports of shirts?

The Deputy is raising a supplementary question on policy matters which would be more appropriate to another Minister. This is a statistical question.

I presume the Parliamentary Secretary is replying on behalf of the Taoiseach and I am asking the Taoiseach who is replying through the Parliamentary Secretary if he has any information as to what progress the Minister for Industry and Commerce is making on this very important issue with which he has been dealing for quite some time.

I have no information on the Deputy's query.

The Taoiseach is absolutely unaware of anything being done about this problem and the ancillary problem of unemployment in the textile industry.

I cannot allow questions of policy to be raised on a statistical question of this kind. Question No. 3.

The Deputy should address his question to the appropriate Minister.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I should like to raise this question on the Adjournment.

I will communicate with the Deputy.