asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he has expressed to any foreign persons or companies his disapproval of proposals of theirs to establish or extend their industry in the Free State, and, if so, if he will state in each case (a) the name of the person or company; (b) the nature of the industry; (c) its proposed location; (d) the capital proposed to be invested; (e) the estimated number of employees; (f) the estimated annual amount of salaries and wages and, (g) the reason for his disapproval.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Government and Foreign Industrialists
I have indicated to some applicants that when the Control of Manufactures Bill, 1932, becomes law it is unlikely that their application for a licence under the provisions of that Act would meet with favourable consideration. I do not consider that it is in the interests of the applicants that names or particulars relating to such applicants should be made public at this stage.
May I ask the Minister if he has been advised as to whether there is any legal validity in connection with the undertaking that was given to certain firms in that connection?
I am afraid I do not follow the question. It is quite obvious——
On the last occasion when the House was considering the Control of Manufactures Bill, the Minister stated that there had been certain undertakings given to certain firms. What I want to know is whether legal advice has been given to the Minister as to whether that undertaking is binding in law.
It is quite obviously not binding in law.
Apart from giving particulars in the case of a number of firms or any particular firm, would the Minister be prepared to state to the House the generality of the terms and conditions which he has expressed in answer to the firm proposing to engage in trade here?
The question I have answered relates to the case of firms where I indicated that the application for a licence would not meet with favourable consideration. No question of conditions arose.
It did not depend on the conditions at all?
No, in no case that I can recollect.
And we are to take it that certain firms made applications and were refused without further ado.
Are we to understand that at a later stage the Minister will give this House particulars of the cases in which he refused permits to set up business under the jurisdiction of the Saorstát?
No.
Might I ask the Minister if he did not say with considerable passion in this House that he would come to the House and answer for every refusal he made and that he was going to safeguard the interests of the State?
I am prepared to consider in what form a general statement could be given to the House in respect of the operations of the new Control of Manufactures Bill when it becomes law. But I do not think it would be in the interests of the applicants whose applications were refused that the names and particulars of the applications should be made public.
The Minister's own words were that in the interest of the State and essentially for the protection of public life in this country these particulars should be furnished and furnished at the earliest opportunity.
Have those undertakings which have been given, been given in writing or under the seal of the Executive Council or have they been given verbally?
The question I have answered relates to permits which were not given.