asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if he will consider establishing an Irish Standards Council, to recommend sets of necessary standards for Irish and imported goods.

In their review of the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards, the National Board for Science and Technology made certain recommendations in relation to Irish standards which I am considering at present.

I would point out that in the last few years the IIRS have considerably increased their output of Irish standards with which Irish-made and imported goods may comply. Furthermore, an inter-agency committee, chaired by my Department, was formed over a year ago to identify priority areas for standards and to encourage the use of Irish standards.

Does the Minister agree that the IIRS have a very important role to play in arriving at new standards? Will he give serious consideration to the establishment of an Irish Standards Council as they could make a very valuable contribution in ensuring that substandard goods are not imported?

The answer to both parts of the Deputy's question is in the affirmative. However, I am reluctant to see the establishment of a new board of any kind and would wish to see the laudable objectives to which the Deputy referred achieved by other means.

I do not disagree with the Minister. He should scrap some of the boards we already have.