asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism the amount and value of the importation of slates to this country from (a) EEC countries and (b) other countries for 1982, 1983 and the first quarter of 1984; if he is aware of the cost variation between these imports and the home produced slates; and the steps he will take to protect employment in the industry concerned with the manufacture of slates in this country.

The information sought by the Deputy on imports of slates to this country is set out in a tabular statement which I will have circulated with the Official Report.

I assume that the Deputy's question refers in particular to imports of asbestos-cement slates, which were the subject of recent representations from the Deputy and other interested parties. I have already indicated in my reply to these representations that officials of my Department are available to assist in the preparation of an application by the firm affected to the EEC Commission for protection against any harmful dumping of low priced imports from outside the EEC.

As regards imports of asbestos-cement slates from other member states of the EEC, which have in fact decreased in both volume and value terms in the past year, our obligations as a member of the EEC generally preclude us from restricting such imports. However, there is already available to industry a wide range of State expertise and assistance to help it to improve its competitiveness against imported products and to encourage development.

Following is the statement:

Imports of Slates/Tiles to Ireland in 1982, 1983 and January-February 1984

(Imports for March 1984 are not yet available)

Could the Minister give me the figures in his tabular statement on imports of asbestos slates in 1983 from non-EEC countries?

Imports of asbestos-cement roofing of wall tiles not exceeding 40 × 60 centimetres from other countries were 17 metric tonnes to the value of £6,000. There was no importation from third countries of other cement roofing tiles.

That would seem to be at variance with information received from the home producers of slates that considerable volumes of slates are being imported from Austria and that it is possible that many jobs will be put at risk in the home industry. What does the Minister propose to do about that?

I have indicated that we imported 17 metric tonnes from third countries to the value of £6,000.

I would not regard that as excessive.

Neither would I.

From the representations the Minister received and to which he referred in his reply, did the figures concur with the figure of 17 metric tonnes?

That is the figure I have in my reply. I can give the Deputy the figures for EEC imports.

I was mostly concerned about non-EEC countries. Will the Minister give me the figures for EEC countries?

In 1982, 10,494 metric tonnes were imported from the EEC to the value of £2,289,000. In 1983 imports were 9,050 metric tonnes to the value of £2.115 million, a reduction again.

Would the Minister agree that the variation in costs between imports from outside countries is putting jobs at risk in the home manufacturing sector, and that the dumping of slates into this market from over supplies in other countries has to be stopped? Apart from helping to formulate a complaint to the Commission, will the Minister take positive steps to do something about it? What does he propose to do?

In relation to Austria I understand there were no imports of such slates in 1982 or in 1983, or in January and February 1984. With regard to anti-dumping from non-EEC countries, the control rests with the Commission acting in consultation with the member state. I have no evidence of dumping.

The Minister referred to representations from a company. Would he elaborate on that?

I said officials of my Department are available to assist in the preparation of an application by the firm affected to the EEC Commission for protection against any harmful dumping of low priced imports from outside the EEC.

Would the Minister agree that suggests his Department are concerned?

We cannot have a cross-examination.

It is merely a statement. My Department are always concerned. We are anxious to help.

We import up to £800 million worth of building materials which could be manufactured here. Does the Minister intend to do anything about import substitution?

The question deals with slates only.

It applies to the whole area of building materials. The Minister is not showing any concern about the jobs which are at risk.

I have fully answered the specific question asked.

There are a few slates missing from the Government's roof.

A roof collapsed last weekend in the Deputy's party.

There are a good few props over here.

The roof seems to be falling in.