asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that of the total paid-up capital of £75,002 of the Coollattin Estate Company, Shillelagh, County Wicklow, £74,999 worth of those shares are held by a British company and, further, that of the three directors of the Coollattin Estate Company, two are British subjects and only one Irish and if, in view of these circumstances, he will state: (a) if he has satisfied himself that it is desirable that Irish companies should be controlled to this extent by foreign capital; (b) whether he will introduce proposals for legislation to extend the scope of the Control of Manufactures Act, 1932-34, so as to ensure that at least 51 per cent. of the shares of such companies are held in Ireland, and that a majority of the directors are Irish nationals, and (c) whether he will take steps to ensure that, pending such legislation, companies controlled in this manner by foreign capital will be required to observe trade union wages and working conditions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Coollattin Estate Company Shares.
It would not be practicable to extend the provisions of the Control of Manufactures Act to cover the operations of the company named in the question which, so far as I am aware, is engaged mainly in estate management.
As regards the last part of the question, existing legislation dealing with working hours, rates of wages, etc., is binding on all employers without distinction. If it is the Deputy's suggestion that the Government should seek additional powers to enforce wage rate and working conditions, other than those which are prescribed under statutory authority, while I should be reluctant to undertake this, I am prepared to consider it further if I am assured that it is desired by the trade union movement generally.