andMr. McQuillan asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if any estimate or survey has yet been made to ascertain the number of industries, and their employment content, which are unlikely to survive Ireland's membership of the Common Market.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Common Market: Survival of Industries.
14.
I would refer the Deputies to the reply given to a similar question asked by them on 16th May, 1961, and to the reply to a question on 21st June, 1961, concerning protected industries. As the Taoiseach mentioned in the course of his statement in Dáil Éireann on 5th July in regard to our position in relation to the European Economic Community, a comprehensive survey of the industrial sector has been initiated jointly with the Federation of Irish Industries.
Could the Minister give any estimate as to the likely date on which we would have some idea as to the number of industries likely to survive? How long would the survey take?
The survey of itself would not produce a specific answer as requested by the Deputy. That would depend as well on the terms of entry to the Common Market that Ireland could achieve.
Could the Minister state whether the report in the newspapers is correct that the survey is being taken first in respect of five branches of industries only and, if so, if he would state what are those five branches?
I know there were more than five involved. As far as I remember, it was seven.
Could the Minister indicate whether it is proposed to associate the Irish Congress of Trade Unions with this survey because of the reservoir of experience and knowledge they have of industry generally?
There is no doubt they will be associated with the survey. The question of what form that will take is now under consideration and should be concluded in a few days.
Arising out of the present developments concerning Britain and the Common Market, will any curb now be put on the development of any new industry, in view of the likely need to bring them into some rationalised form?
That is a separate matter.
Separate or not, on the contrary, no curb whatever will be put on the development of new industry.