asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether, having regard to the unemployment which exists in Dundalk, Co. Louth, it is intended to open negotiations with Distillers Co., Ltd., with a view to facilitating and inducing this company to re-open their distillery situated in Dundalk, which distillery has been closed for the past two years.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - DUNDALK DISTILLERY.
The Deputy stated in the Dáil, on the 29th June, that this industry was closed owing to criminal neglect and dereliction of duty on the part of the Government. I am glad to have this opportunity of contrasting the facts with the Deputy's assertions.
Over a period of two years my Department was constantly in communication with the owners of the distillery in the endeavour to secure its re-opening. Indeed, an official of my Department went specially for this purpose to a conference at the London offices of the Company. The distillery was formerly engaged in the production of non-potable patent spirit with, as a byproduct, yeast. On re-opening, it would have to depend mainly on exports to dispose of these products, for which the home demand would absorb only part of the output. The Company, which from its own point of view dealt with the matter sympathetically, required, as primary conditions for re-opening, an increase on the drawback allowed on the export of patent spirit and a tariff on yeast. It was expected that the Company would apply accordingly to the Tariff Commission but, at a later stage, it showed itself not inclined to do so. The facts of the situation appear to be that this particular distillery is not at the moment in a position to produce non-potable spirit for consumption in the British market, where the greater part of its output must be sold, as economically as other distilleries under the same control supplying the same market, and that with the prevailing depression in the spirit trade the Company sees no inducement to re-open. Should the Company at any time regard the prospects more favourably and have any proposal to make whereby, with the regard to the general public interest, I can facilitate them in re-opening, I will be glad to give it that close and sympathetic consideration which, I have no doubt, the Company will agree my Department has given all its proposals in the past.
Arising out of the answer of the Minister, may I ask if it is the intention of the Government to grant foreign distilling combines the same facilities for trading in the Saorstát as the companies which are providing employment for our people, or if he considers that the time has arrived for the adoption of an attitude to those foreign distilling combines similar to that adopted by Canada and Australia which extend a preference, in the former case, of 4/- per gallon and, in the latter case, of 9/-per gallon to all home products, and in this way assist the reduction of unemployment in this country.
If the Deputy will put me a concrete question, I will endeavour to give him an answer, but I cannot answer a question involving generalities of the speech-making type.
May I ask the Minister, further, whether he is aware that the Distillers Company has established a moderately-sized distillery in Northern Queensland, that this has been established mainly owing to the sympathy of the Australian Government and the great facilities they gave the Distillers Company in its establishment. In addition, is the Minister aware that it is the intention of the Distillers Company to equip further distilleries in Northern Queensland should the present one prove a success. May I also ask the Minister if he is aware that the feeling prevails in and around Dundalk that it is the fault of the Ministry that the distillery there is closed at the present time, as they asked for facilities from the Government at the time and were denied them?
Is the Minister aware that the distilleries in Northern Queensland are not making whiskey at all but are making brandy and rum? Is he further aware that Australia imports whiskey to the value of over £1,000,000 annually?
What is the point in that question?
I think we shall have to conclude this debate.