asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if any examination has been carried out by his Department, by Córas Tráchtála or by any other agency, on the extent to which Irish exports have been affected by protective measures, tariffs, delays or harassments of any kind (a) within the Common Market countries, (b) elsewhere; if there has been any improvement in the situation since the publication of the Council of Europe Document No. 5052 on 19 April 1983; the steps being taken by the Government to secure free and open trade for Irish goods abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Nearly 90 per cent of the Irish export trade is governed by the rules of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).

The external trading environment is watched by my Department on a continuing basis and remedial action is taken as warranted. Irish exports generally have not been seriously affected, in the EEC or elsewhere, by measures such as those mentioned by the Deputy. Córas Tráchtála in their day-to-day contacts with exporters are constantly on the alert for any such barriers and in co-operation with my Department arrange for appropriate action.

Since the publication of the Council of Europe document, Ireland has continued with the other member states of the EEC to avoid new restrictive measures and has pledged itself to roll back protectionism. The maintenance of the free international trading system continues to be our policy in discussions in the various international trading organisations.

The Minister referred in reply to supplementaries to Question No. 12 that Irish exporters, particularly in some EEC countries, are hit by protective and local "buy national" promotion measures. My question refers not only to protection but to harassments, delays and matters of that nature. Having regard to the very serious degree of interference shown in the Council of Europe report, can the Minister say whether there has been any improvement since then? Has he had complaints on the subject? Has he made representations on it to the EEC or elsewhere?

I am well aware of the Deputy's concern in this matter, which he will recollect he discussed with me on another occasion. I am very anxious that we should use the opportunity provided to us by the fact that we will be providing the Presidency of the European Council during the second half of 1984, to do what we can to roll back protectionist pressures within the Community and between the Community and other parts. The matter I referred to in response to the last question was not normal trade restrictions but public procurement practices which, while of similar effect, were slightly different.