asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the position regarding the importation of steel for shipbuilding and if he is aware that tenders were invited for the building of two ships recently by the Commissioners of Irish Lights and that no Irish firm tendered for this valuable work that would give employment in the shipyards for over two years; and, if so, if he will make a statement in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Steel for Shipbuilding.
Mr. A. Byrne
While I have no direct responsibility in this matter, I have made inquiries, and I am informed that a Dublin shipbuilding yard which has a contract for the building of a collier is experiencing a certain slowness in delivery of steel.
I am also informed that, in regard to the two ships mentioned in the second part of the question, the position is as stated by the Deputy, and that the inability to tender competitively was due to the fact that the necessary steel, which must be imported, will only be supplied to shipyards here at a price substantially higher than that at which steel is available to outside competitors.
Mr. A. Byrne
Is the Minister aware that, owing to the failure to get this steel, £500,000 worth of work has been lost to Irish shipbuilders? Is it not possible for the Minister to arrange with the British Government that the privilege that was given in their own shipyards would be extended here? Is it not possible for him to go over and try to make some trade agreement that will allow steel to come in here on the same terms as it is supplied to British shipyards?
I have done so. I have gone over and discussed it with the British Minister of Trade, without success.
Has the Minister considered the possibility of affording Irish shipbuilding yards the same form of assistance as is provided by other Governments for their native shipbuilding industries?
That has been considered, but I think the difference in steel prices is such that no measure of assistance would be adequate to overcome the competitive disadvantage in a case of this kind. I do not know if the Board of Irish Lights, of which Deputy Byrne is a member, would be prepared to accept a non-competitive tender for these ships.
Mr. A. Byrne
It is because I am a member that I am drawing attention to the fact that the shipyard proprietors cannot get steel because of some arrangement——
They can get it, but they cannot get it at a competitive price, and they cannot get the Board of Irish Lights to accept a non-competitive tender.
Mr. A. Byrne
The Minister promised at a recent luncheon, following the launching of a ship in Dublin, that he would go into this matter; £500,000 worth of work is being lost to this country——
That is a complete exaggeration.
Mr. A. Byrne
——until this country enters into some special arrangement whereby we can get steel at the same price.
Exactly. The Irish shipyards cannot get it at the same price as the British shipyards, and they cannot get the work because the Board of Irish Lights will not accept a non-competitive tender.
Why should the Board of Irish Lights accept a non-competitive tender when Irish Shipping will not?
Irish Shipping will and have done so. I can assure Deputy Larkin that they gave a contract for a collier to the Irish shipyards without any tender at all, on the basis of the price they quoted.