asked the Taoiseach the latest available figures on trade between this country and the USSR, Poland, the People's Republic of China and Taiwan.

In the period January-August, 1976, the value of trade with the countries in question was as follows:

Did I hear from the Parliamentary Secretary that the balance of trade against us vis-á-vis Russia in the current year is £13.9 million to £1 million?

So far, Deputy, it is.

Was it that bad, say, four or five years ago?

If the Deputy does not mind waiting I will give him the figures. In 1971 imports and exports were £2,963,000 and £214,000 respectively. In 1972 and 1973 the figures were comparable and the proportions were comparable, in other words, a disadvantage of roughly 10:1. Since 1974 the trade disadvantage has remarkably decreased. In 1974 imports were very steeply up at £14,907,000 and exports very substantially up at £8,257,000. The following year, 1975, imports were £18,041,000, exports £10,050,000. For January to August, 1975, the figures are included in what I have just given. So far the figure this year is just short of £1 million.

Now that we have the advantage of having a Russian Ambassador here would the Parliamentary Secretary see to it that the Government would make use of that fact to try to equalise our trade with Russia which was one of the purposes, as I understood it, of establishing diplomatic relations with them?

The Deputy is entering into the area of policy. This would be a matter for the appropriate Minister.

If the Deputy will read the reply he will see——

£13.9 million against us.

The trade balance since 1974 has very substantially improved in our favour.

Nonsense.

In value, not proportion.

In proportion, Deputy. It does not matter what the volume is.

It was due mainly to an increase in the price of wool.

The point is that the adverse relationship of exports to imports in the three years before 1974 was roughly 10:1. Since that date the disproportion has very substantially decreased.

14:1 today.