asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he made any representations to Cómhlucht Siúcre Eireann, Teoranta, requesting that certain trade considerations be taken into account before the contract for the erection of the three sugar factories at Mallow, Tuam and Thurles, and, if so, if he will state what these considerations were in the case of each county in respect of which trade considerations were to be taken into account, giving in each case the value (annual or otherwise) expected to accrue to this country as the result of the making of the contract.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sugar Factory Contract.
Certain consultations took place between the Board of Directors of Cómhlucht Siúcre Eireann, Teoranta, and my Department with reference to the placing of the contract for the sugar factories at Mallow, Tuam and Thurles. These consultations concerned the possibility, subject to the overriding considerations of the price and efficiency of the machinery and equipment to be supplied, of securing from the countries interested advantages for the Saorstát's export trade consequent on the placing of the contract. I do not consider it to be in the public interest that the other information asked for on the question should be given at this stage.
The allegation is that the contract was given to a firm that was £150,000 above the next tender. If that be so, is the Minister satisfied that the trade considerations guaranteed are sufficient to cover that very big difference?
The Deputy seems to have an extraordinary knack of collecting extraordinary allegations and giving vent to them in the Dáil. The allegation is entirely unfounded.
That is what I want to get out. There is no truth in the statement that the contract was given at £150,000 above the lowest tender?
No.
Was it given to the lowest tender?
I am not responsible for Cómhlucht Siúcre Eireann, and I am not going to answer any questions concerning them.
£150,000 is a big sum for this small country.
The suggestion is preposterous, and nobody but the Deputy would make it.
It is not so preposterous. It is an important matter if this country is prepared to pay an extra £150,000 to a firm in accepting these tenders, and the country would like to know——
We did not do that and we are not going to do it. I am quite sure that no responsible person gave that information to the Deputy. It is the product of his own imagination, and it is not true.
I am glad to hear that and I accept the Minister's statement.
You do not seem to accept it.