Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Nov 1924

Vol. 9 No. 8

ADJOURNMENT OF THE DAIL. - WORKS AT DUBLIN PORT.

Mr. JOHNSON

The matter I gave notice to call attention to was in respect of the unfinished important works at the Dublin Port. Some years ago there was a succession of schemes proposed which would have taken many years to carry through, and employ a large number of men for a long time. Some of that work has been completed. Much of it remains incomplete, as I understand, in consequence of a shortage of money. My object in raising the matter now is to press it upon the attention of the Minister for Industry and Commerce, or the Minister for Finance, or the Government as a whole, with a view to their approaching the Port and Docks Board to find some way of accelerating the work at the Port, and, if possible, set work going so that numbers of men can be re-employed. I understand that at the last portion of the scheme which was completed there were several hundred men employed for a considerable time, and that the cessation of that work was because they had come to the end of their financial resources. As this is the kind of work which would employ unskilled labour almost wholly, and as all the money would be spent in the direct payment of labour, I press it upon the Ministry to consider how far it could be possible to agree with the Port and Docks Board to set the work going without delay. If within the next few weeks something of that kind could be started it would relieve the situation for a great many people, and it would be quite productive expenditure and in every way would be satisfactory.

I do not know what the position in respect of finance is, but I suggest that under the Trade Loans Guarantee Act, possibly the Ministry could make some arrangement with the Port and Docks Board to give them cheap finance. In any case, whatever the method may be, I urge upon the Ministry that they should get into communication with the Port and Docks Board with a view to setting in operation a scheme of improvement at the Port and thereby relieve the present situation amongst the unemployed in Dublin.

Mr. HEWAT

I support Deputy Johnson in this matter. But I rise with a certain amount of timidity. The unemployment question is very urgently needing solution. The Port and Docks Board are undoubtedly in the position to give the utmost value for any money received. Personally, I have always taken up the view at the Port and Docks Board that we are not beggars, and that we do not want any assistance to carry on the work. But the Port and Docks Board are in this rather difficult position at the present time that the raising of a considerable sum of money to carry on the works that are really very necessary would be a difficult proposition. I think the Minister for Finance knows some of the difficulties that we labour under at the moment. I would say if the operations of the Trade Loans Guarantee Act can be extended to the Port and Docks Board the money can be very usefully employed by them, and can be received not as a gift, though I daresay some of the members of the Port and Docks Board would regard it as a gift. Personally I do not advocate any such thing. If the Government have any money available, I would say that the work that would be carried on at the Port, by the Port Board, would be beneficial to the whole community, and would bring our Port up-to-date quicker than we can do it ourselves as we stand.

I would certainly support Deputy Johnson in the view that there is no work that could be undertaken that would give more employment to unskilled labour than this particular work. I would like to say that I am not in collusion with Deputy Johnson in this matter, because it was only after he put in his notice that I heard anything about it. I hope the Dáil will exonerate me from any suspicion of being twice in one day in league with the Labour Party. Perhaps if I were it would not be a very retrograde sign. I can at all events very heartily support the claim Deputy Johnson puts forward. If the Minister, even in the shape of a loan under the Trade Loans Guarantee Act, can provide the funds for the Port and Docks Board, I think I can say that, though I have not yet consulted them, the Port and Docks Board would welcome such a step and provide every possible means for the money being expended usefully in the relief of unemployment, and more usefully still in the greater facilities that would be afforded to shipping by making the Port more up-to-date even than it is at present.

MINISTER for INDUSTRY and COMMERCE (Mr. McGilligan)

I had a certain touch in regard to this matter with the Port and Docks Board, the work it had on hands, and the work it could do if funds were available. That was recently. I found, in a memorandum which I had provided for certain purposes about the middle of April of this year, that I did make reference to the work that the Port and Docks Board had held themselves ready to do provided that funds were made easy for them in a certain way. The particular project the Port and Docks Board put forward for the purpose of getting these funds took the whole matter out of my jurisdiction and took it, indeed, out of the whole ken of my Department. I believe the passage they attempted to find at that period was blocked.

Deputy Johnson now raises the question in another form. He puts it vaguely that we should agree with the Port and Docks Board to get work going without delay. The suggestion was made later that the provisions of the Trade Loans Guarantee Act should be availed of for that purpose. I have done all I consider incumbent on me to do with regard to the Trade Loans Guarantee Act. I have made the terms of it known, and I have issued advertisements calling attention to its provisions. One of the advertisements went so far as to say that applications, no matter how novel or unusual, would be welcomed, provided they came within the terms of the two clauses of the Act. I do not think that it devolves upon me to go definitely to a body like the Port and Docks Board and ask them to submit an application under the Act so that the Committee might be able to advise upon such an application. The question, however, has been raised here now, and Deputy Hewat has indicated that he would be willing, on behalf of the Port and Docks Board, to accept money. I presume he will also be willing to make application for such money in the ordinary way. If he does so, I can promise that the project will receive the most sympathetic consideration that the Committee can give it, within the terms of the Act. Beyond that I cannot go.

Mr. JOHNSON

Would the Minister think it beyond the dignity of the Government to take the initiative in such work of this kind?

Mr. McGILLIGAN

Not beneath the dignity of the Government, but it might be beyond the powers of the Government, because if this matter were to be taken as a precedent, all sorts of undertakings might afterwards raise the cry that specially-chosen undertakings had been shown all kinds of favouritism, and that this particular undertaking had been introduced in a way that would not apply to other undertakings. This matter has now been introduced with a member of the Port and Docks Board present, and I have given sufficient indication of my attitude on the subject. I have indicated that if this is brought forward in the ordinary way it will receive the sympathetic consideration of the Committee. I hesitate to say that I shall go to the Port and Docks Board, because if I took that line now I might have to go to thousands of possible applicants later.

I prefer to hold—and I consider I am justified in holding—that my duty has been done in advertising the terms of this Act widely, and in giving consideration to any applications when they come before me. Now that the matter has been ventilated, I shall more or less advise and instruct the Committee that it may expect an application from the Port and Docks Board. It is for the Port and Docks Board to make the application in the ordinary way, and on the terms of the notice that has been issued. Unemployment in the city particularly is known to be very great, and as money will have to be spent to relieve unemployment in some way during the coming winter, and as this is a feasible project, and as the port is more or less national property, possibly no better way of expending the money could be obtained. The project, however, must come within the terms of the Act. When it was put up previously it did not come before me in a way in which I could approach it. It was a matter for the Minister for Finance and the particular project was not found suitable. There was some obstruction discovered and the matter fell through. It is now coming in a different way.

Mr. HEWAT

Perhaps Deputy Johnson would be satisfied with the assurance that, after the sympathetic reply of the Minister, I will avail of the very earliest opportunity to bring the matter before the Port and Docks Board. I do not think there will be any hesitation on their part to make the application that the Minister desires.

The Dáil adjourned at 8.25 p.m. until 3 o'clock on Wednesday, 5th November.