andMr. Browne asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the numbers employed in fertiliser manufacture in this country in each year since 1972.

The information requested by the Deputies is in the form of a tabular statement which with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to have circulated with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:

*These figures are provisional

Could the Parliamentary Secretary say whether the quantities of already manufactured fertilisers being imported has increased and if this means that there will be serious danger to the jobs of men working in the fertiliser industry here, particularly in the New Ross fertiliser factory? Does the Parliamentary Secretary agree that the employment situation in New Ross is being seriously aggravated by the sale under false pretences of imported fertiliser packed in bags marked "Made in Ireland"?

That is a separate question.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary agree that this would be prejudicial to the continuity of employment in the fertiliser industry?

That is still a separate question. Question No. 9 relates solely to the numbers employed.

I asked the Parliamentary Secretary whether there has been an increase in the importation of manufactured fertilisers, and if there has been, will this not lead to a danger to the continuity of employment in the fertiliser industry. This is not a separate question.

The Deputy may wish to raise this question on another question, but it does not relate to this.

Another question deals with that matter. This question deals with numbers employed.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary give the figures for each of the years?

The figures are selected on a quarterly basis. I could give the Deputy figures for any one month of the years.

Could we have the figures for the end of the years?

Could we have the information the question asks for?

Order, Order.

The information has been given in the tabular statement being circulated with the reply. I have not the slightest objection to giving all the information the Deputy wants. I was merely clarifying what sort of information Deputy Allen wishes to receive.

It is important to get the figures because they arise in another question.

The figures for December are as follows. In 1972, 2,300, in 1973 2,500, 1974 2,600, in 1975, 2,400 and in 1976—this is a provisional figure—2,100.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that as a result of the 100 per cent increase in the importation of compound fertiliser for the two months of January and February of this year, employees engaged in the manufacture of compound fertiliser here are very worried and upset about what their future may be? The Parliamentary Secretary has already indicated that there has been quite a big drop in employment in fertiliser factories in 1976. I take it that the Parliamentary Secretary is aware of the huge importation increase and that he is aware that much of this fertiliser is being imported in bags marked "Made in Ireland". What action is the Parliamentary Secretary taking to safeguard the jobs of Irish workers? Will the Parliamentary Secretary admit that while the farming community are securing fertiliser at a cheap rate at the moment they will suffer for it in the long run when our own factories are put out of production?

I have no wish to be discourteous to the Deputy and I will be happy to answer the question as far as possible. However, as I pointed out to Deputy Gibbons, Question No. 9 relates to the numbers employed. The Deputy may raise some of the material in his supplementary question on a later question.

Question No. 10 please.

Surely the Parliamentary Secretary will admit that if the importation of any article, in this case compound fertiliser, increased by 100 per cent in two months, jobs would be endangered?

The importation aspect of this is another matter. This question deals with the numbers employed.

Surely, importation is what counts here?

It is another question Deputy.

I would be very happy to discuss the matter mentioned by Deputy Browne on a later question which is put down for answer today.

In view of the decline of approximately 300 employees in the fertiliser industry from 1975 to 1976, could the Parliamentary Secretary say if a decline in the use of the fertiliser, or an increase in fertiliser imports, is responsible?

The major factor is probably the latter mentioned by the Deputy.

Importation?

I want to deal with other questions.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary satisfied that the importation of fertiliser is having a bad effect on the employment of Irish people?

Importation is another matter.