asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if he is aware of the increasing amounts of cement being imported into this country; and the plans he has, if any, to ensure that only cement complying to specific standards is used in all Government assisted projects.

I understand that the volume of Portland cement imports in the first seven months of 1984, the latest period for which data are readily available from the Central Statistics Office, shows a reduction of about one-third over the corresponding period in 1983.

As regards the second part of the Deputy's question, so far as my Department and the bodies under its aegis are concerned, measures have already been taken with a view to ensuring that only cement certified to the appropriate Irish standard is used.

Is there a general directive from the Government in relation to the type of cement to be used not alone in State projects but in State-sponsored and grant-assisted projects?

The Department of the Environment issued a circular to local authorities stating that from 1 July 1984 Portland cement to be used in local authority building works in which they were involved, either by way of total or part financing, should be certified to the appropriate IIRS standard, which is IS 1/1963, as amended.

Is the Minister aware that cement is being imported and that there is no way of knowing at the point of entry whether it conforms to the standards about which he has already spoken? What measures does he intend to take to ensure that at the point of entry imported cement does conform to these standards?

At least the Minister brought in the requirement for the standard.

But do we know what standard the cement is?

I do not wish, a Cheann Comhairle——

That requirement already existed back in 1982, if the Deputy wants to know. A directive was sent out. I am surprised that a Labour Deputy would go along with the Department and not be interested in import substitution.

I am surprised that Deputy Reynolds had not brought in the standard.

I brought in the standard and set up two institutions which this Government have disbanded, if the Deputy wants to know.

Order, please. Deputy Reynolds is being disorderly.

Perhaps the Chair might have a talk with Deputy Taylor.

Deputy Taylor is being provocative.

For the information of Deputy Reynolds——

Order, please. Would you let the Minister reply?

——the Department of the Environment issued a circular to local authorities in 1983.

And back in 1982, if the Minister wants to check the records.

I do not want to over-stress this matter, Deputy.

Is the Minister denying that a circular was sent out in 1982?

Please, Deputy Reynolds will have to learn to control himself in the House. He finds it difficult, I know, but he will have to do it.

There is no point in putting false statements on the record.

I will state some facts, a Cheann Comhairle, if I get the permission of Deputy Reynolds to do so.

The Minister says it is 1983 and I say a circular was issued in 1982.

Deputy Taylor started up all this.

Irish Cement Limited supply 95 per cent of the Irish market. If Deputy Reynolds has specific complaints with regard to the operation of the IIRS standard——

Not with that.

—— he is quite at liberty to inform my Department, or the IIRS. It is a serious matter if in our buildings we are using substandard materials. If the Deputy has information, there is no point in his making political play out of it ——

I am not making political play.

—— on the floor of the House. If he wants to give information about specific cases, whether to my Department or the Department of the Environment or, more properly, the IIRS, then he is welcome to do so.

I resent the scandalous suggestion by the Minister that I am making political play out of this matter.

That is not a question.

If the Minister had listened properly to my supplementary question, he would have heard that it was in relation to the importation of cement that I was speaking, and at point of entry, not in regard to the standards set by the Institute of Industrial Research and Standards. Cement is getting in at the point of entry, to which those standards are not being applied. However, the Minister is not interested in that type of question.

I invite Deputies on all sides of the House to consider whether they think that they are making the best use of Question Time. In three-quarters of an hour we have dealt with ten questions. Would they just think of that?

I only ask supplementary questions of my own. The Chair should direct that to other Deputies.

I am directing it to everybody in the House.

Thank you.

11.