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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Oct 1947

Vol. 108 No. 5

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Proposed Sale of Distillery.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if his attention has been drawn to the proposed sale of Locke's Distillery, Kilbeggan, County Westmeath; whether he will state if this important industrial concern will continue to function under its proposed new owners; and if it will be subject to to the operation of the Control of Manufactures Acts; and if so, whether this change in ownership has come officially before him, under the provisions of these Acts.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether his Department has been made aware of the transfer of Locke's Distillery, Kilbeggan, County Westmeath, to a Swiss syndicate; whether he has any information at his disposal concerning the future of this industry, and if any proposals have been laid before his Department in this connection; and if he will make a statement regarding whether or not the terms of the Control of Manufactures Acts are being complied with in connection with this transaction.

I propose to take questions Nos. 7 and 8 together.

My attention has been drawn to the proposed sale of Locke's Distillery, Kilbeggan. I am not aware whether the sale has been completed, nor have I any information regarding the future of this industry. The Control of Manufactures Acts would not apply in the event of the distillery being sold, so that the question of compliance with the requirements of those Acts does not arise.

Arising out of the Minister's reply, I would like to know if the Minister has any information of representations being made to his Department concerning the question of obtaining an export licence for 66,000 gallons of whiskey from the distillery.

No such application has been made and I may say that if such an application were made the licence would not be granted.

Can the Minister say if a member of the Oireachtas made any verbal representations to his Department, and if so, what was the nature of the undertaking given to that member of the Oireachtas primarily concerned in the sale?

No such representations were made and no undertaking was given.

Is it not a fact that the Department of Industry and Commerce was bitterly opposed to this sale falling into hands of aliens and what is the reason for the fact that they changed?

The solicitor of the company informed the Department of Industry and Commerce that the distillery was for sale. The Department has no power to prevent the sale even to persons of alien nationality because it is exempted from the provisions of the Control of Manufactures Act as were all industries which were in existence before the Act was passed. I made known my view that the sale should be confined to firms that proposed to carry on the business in a proper way. The solicitor undertook to inform the Department if any offer so made was accepted but, in fact, no information has come from the solicitor since.

Question No. 9.

Is the Minister aware that——

Question No. 9.

In view of the unfavourable reply, Sir, I wish to raise this matter on the Adjournment.

Question No. 9. Deputies must understand that when the next question is called it is called.

I gave notice, Sir——

I want to be clear, Sir, that the question is being raised. I have no responsibility.

There seems to be a very unsavoury atmosphere about this whole transaction.

There will be, if Deputy Dillon gets his hands on it.

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