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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Mar 1943

Vol. 89 No. 9

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Licence for Export of Wool.

asked the Minister for Supplies whether he is aware that the Athlone Woollen Mills have been manufacturers of worsted yarn in every stage from raw fleece wool to the finished yarn for over 50 years; that they asked on the 18th January, 1943, for a licence to export 20,000 lbs. of raw wool to be manufactured into tops in England and returned to the mills to be spun into yarn; that while no such licence has been issued to the Athlone mills, nor any satisfactory reply received to the application, facilities of the kind sought by the Athlone Mills are being given to Messrs. Salts (Ireland) Limited; and if he will say (a) why the licence asked for has not been granted to the Athlone Woollen Mills; (b) why a licence of this kind is granted to one firm and refused to others, and (c) whether, with a view to increasing employment in the Athlone Mills, he will now cause the licence applied for to be issued.

I am aware that the Athlone Woollen Mills made application for a licence to export 20,000 lbs. of wool for the purpose mentioned in the Deputy's question and that no licence has been issued to them. Facilities of the kind sought by the Athlone Woollen Mills are being given to Messrs. Salts (Ireland), Limited, under an arrangement made with the United Kingdom authorities. The reason why a licence has not been granted to Athlone Woollen Mills is that no arrangement has yet been made in their case. Inquiries are being made in the matter, and pending the outcome of such inquiries I am not in a position to communicate a decision. The Athlone Woollen Mills have been advised of the position.

Is the Minister not aware that the Athlone Woollen Mills have been engaged in this business for over 50 years, and that it is an astonishing thing that another firm should get the facilities which have been refused to them? Is he not also aware that there is a good deal of unemployment in Athlone and that this is an effort by the Athlone Woollen Mills to assist in easing the unemployment position there?

The facilities to which the Deputy refers have been given to Messrs. Salts, Limited, by the authorities of the United Kingdom.

At the behest of the Minister for Supplies? If I understood the Minister aright, I understood him to say that he had made arrangements with them.

No. I did not say that we had made an arrangement, but that facilities were given to Messrs. Salts under an arrangement made with the United Kingdom authorities.

Without any interference by the Minister for Supplies?

No. That is not so either.

Well, then, at whose instigation were the facilities given? The Minister, evidently, is willing to give to Messrs. Salts, Limited, facilities that he is not prepared to give to the Athlone Woollen Mills; he is not prepared to make arrangements for facilities for the Athlone Woollen Mills.

I did not say that.

Is that information for the Chair or the introduction to a supplementary?

I am pointing out that it has not been done, and that the arrangement was made with the United Kingdom authorities.

Will the Minister take steps to expedite this matter and see that facilities are granted as soon as possible?

I have already said that inquiries are being made into the matter.

But that is a very loose phrase.

Well, it has to be that way.

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