asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether the seven new furniture factories stated by him to have been started in Dublin between March, 1932, and the 13th January, 1933, have since, in accordance with his expressed intention, been examined in the light of the Control of Manufactures Act, 1932, and whether the factories have been approved or disapproved of by him; and whether or not licences have been issued to each of these factories; the reasons for the granting or the withholding of these licences; and the names of the owners and the locations of the factories.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Furniture Factories.
In five of the seven cases referred to in the question it has been ascertained that the businesses are either in the beneficial ownership of Saorstát nationals within the meaning of Control of Manufactures Act, 1932, or were established prior to the 1st June, 1932. Consequently no new manufacture licence was granted to any of the firms. The next part of the question does not, therefore, arise. In the remaining two cases the businesses have ceased.
As regards the last part of the question I am not prepared to give the names of Saorstát firms whose affairs were the subject of official investigation. Any such disclosure would be merely injurious to their interests. As to the location of the factories I would refer the Deputy to the first part of his question.
Is the position with regard to Irish manufacturers, at the present moment, that either the Minister is ashamed to say who they are or where they are, or that they themselves are ashamed to let the Minister say where they are or who they are?
The Deputy has asked a question regarding seven factories, and I have answered that question. In any case I see no reason why the names should be given here having regard to the nature of the question and to the effect on their interests which would follow a statement here that they had been the subject of official investigation.
Is the Minister not aware that the question arises out of the statement made by him in January last that seven new furniture factories had been set up here?
Up to the 1st January.
Between March, 1932, and the 1st January. Is it the position that this House cannot get the names or the locations of factories that the Minister declares have been set up as a result of his policy?
May I refer the Deputy to his question? I have informed him that the circumstances of these businesses were under investigation having regard to the Control of Manufactures Act. He has asked if this investigation is completed, and if so, with what result. I have given him the result. I do not propose to give him the names of the firms in that connection.
Is it the position then that the Minister is not prepared to give the names of the people who set up factories and the locations of the factories which he claims have been started in the country as a result of his policy?
I am quite prepared to give both names and information wherever these names and information are required in a manner that is not obviously designed to damage their interests. I take it that it is the Deputy's attitude that having prevented these people from starting factories for ten years, he now wants to damage their interests when they have started them.
I desire to give notice that owing to the unsatisfactory answer of the Minister I shall raise on the adjournment the subject matter of this question and also of the next question, as I take it the Minister's attitude will be the same in regard to it.