asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (a) the number of Irish graduate engineers and (b) the number of foreign graduate engineers now employed by the Irish Sugar Company.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Sugar Company's Engineers.
The answer to the Deputy's question is in the negative. I have no official concern with the academic qualifications of persons employed by this company.
Is the Minister taking steps to ensure that the relative section of the Control of Manufactures Act is complied with by the Irish Sugar Company?
I think if the Deputy would study the provisions of that Act he will find that it does not apply to this company.
Is the Minister, who is Minister for Commerce as well as for Industry, not concerned with ensuring that in a company of this kind any preference is given to Irish-born persons?
My business is to ensure that the concern is well and efficiently run.
Even if run by foreigners to the exclusion of Irishmen?
It is necessary that foreign technologists should be employed in connection with this industry. Without their assistance no industry of this kind could have been established or kept going. The employment of a very large number of Irish citizens depends upon the competence of the technical staff employed by this company. Its success and their employment depend upon the retention here of the services of foreign technicians. I am aware that efforts have been made by parties acting from ulterior motives outside this House to organise a campaign against the employment of these experts and technicians. I want to prevent any impression being created that there is any hostility existing against these people on the part of the people of this country or of the Government. We appreciate the assistance they gave us in developing the sugar industry in this country, and hope that their services will continue to be available so long as they are required to keep the industry going.
Does the Minister not consider that with a relatively limited outlook for engineers in this country every step should be taken by his Department to ensure that the maximum possible number of such people would be employed in an industry of this kind?
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state what steps were taken by him to ensure that Irish engineers and chemists, employed by the Irish Sugar Company to understudy temporary foreign experts, will be given adequate opportunities of studying in detail their future work with a view to their employment ultimately to fill the positions now held by the foreign experts.
I am satisfied from investigations carried out by my Department that arrangements are in force whereby nationals are trained to replace aliens in pursuance of the condition attached to the permits issued to Comhlucht Siuicre Eireann Teoranta under the Aliens Order, 1925 and 1935, in respect of the employment of these aliens, which required that the services of the aliens should be utilised for the purpose of training Saorstát nationals.
Can the Minister say how many Irish engineers and chemists are employed in the undertaking, and how many have been given an opportunity for acquiring a knowledge of the technical methods?
The Irish nationals who are employed by this company for the purpose of being trained in the various technical processes associated with the industry have been given adequate opportunities of acquiring the information, knowledge and experience that will qualify them at some stage to exercise executive functions and to fulfil the work necessary for the proper conduct of the industry. The training which they are getting could not have been given to them and could not now be given to them if the foreign technologists in the employment of the company were not available.
Will the Minister give us any general indication as to when it is hoped that this company will be staffed exclusively by Irishmen?
Not for a very long number of years to come.