asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he proposes to review the qualifying conditions for identification of a "Guaranteed Irish" product.

The purpose of the "Guaranteed Irish" mark is to identify those products which are substantially of Irish manufacture and in relation to the products to guarantee compliance by the manufacturer with certain criteria designed for the protection of the consumer. To qualify for the use of the mark the value added in Ireland in the case of a product must represent not less than 40 per cent of the ex-factory price. This criterion is realistic having regard to the country's heavy reliance on imported materials and components. The objective of identifying goods which are substantially of Irish manufacture and stimulating consumer support for them is being achieved and the Minister does not propose at this stage to recommend to the Irish Goods Council that the conditions for the use of the mark should be altered.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary accept that the present standard is not helping Irish industry in many cases, as some items bearing the "Guaranteed Irish" stamp are not accepted as Irish?

I am aware that some products which are more associated in the public mind with other countries have been marketed under this sign. That may cause the Deputy surprise but the "Guaranteed Irish" badge is not given to a company or to an overall spread of products, but product by product and each product must conform to the criteria I have mentioned, namely that 40 per cent of the ex-factory price of value is added in Ireland. Even in the case of the products that the Deputy has in mind I take it that 40 per cent of their value has been put on here by labour, assembly and so on.