andMr. Kitt asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if an Irish standard has been established for agricultural tractor safety cabs or if it is under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

In view of the Regulations, S.I. No. 138 of 1969, made by the Minister for Local Government in 1969, the usefulness of a separate standard for agricultural tractor safety cabs is not apparent. For this reason, the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards have not proposed to me that an Irish standard should be declared.

Has any investigation been made as to whether these safety cabs could be manufactured in Ireland?

The question is not about manufacture but about the establishment of a standard. One could establish a standard without manufacturing, or one could manufacture things without a standard.

Safety cabs are reported to be very expensive. I believe some of them are more expensive than some of the older tractors. Has there been any investigation into whether we might be able to manufacture a less expensive safety cab?

The current regulations governing safety cabs were made by the Minister for Local Government. If, as the Deputy seems to imply, the application of these regulations is imposing undue expense on people who have to buy tractors, it would be a matter for the Minister for Local Government if an amendment of the standard is what the Deputy has in mind. The general question of the cost of tractor safety cabs and the possibility of having them manufactured here is separate from the subject matter of Question No. 22. I will have the matter investigated and let the Deputy know what I find out.

These regulations were made in 1969?

Yes, by the Minister for Local Government.

Since those regulations were made, safety cabs have become compulsory by law. Several companies are anxious to establish units here to manufacture those cabs, but they cannot do so because the cost of taking out the English standard is too high. If we had an Irish standard they could be established here.

The 1969 regulations to which I referred made it compulsory. These are road traffic regulations made by the Minister for Local Government. I am not aware of the truth or otherwise of the statement made by the Deputy in relation to the expense involved in taking out the standard, as the Deputy put it, but I will have the matter investigated and I will be in touch with both Deputies.

Is the Minister aware that a cheaper type of safety cab for older tractors is being manufactured here and costs in the region of £200, whereas the one which would meet with the British standard costs £600, almost the price of an old tractor? I do not know whether it is accepted as safe.

Whether or not it complies with the regulations made by the Minister for Local Government is a matter for that Minister. If the Deputy wishes to put that question he should put it to the Minister for Local Government.

Question No. 23.

People should know what they are buying. If they buy something which is not up to the standard but which is cheap they are being fooled.

I have called the next question.

On a point of information, Deputy Daly and I put down this question to the Minister for Agriculture and it was transferred to the Minister for Industry and Commerce. Now the Parliamentary Secretary tells us the regulations were made by the Minister for Local Government. Could we be told exactly who is dealing with this problem?

If it is a question of the standard of the safety cab it is a matter for the Minister for Local Government.