asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Messrs. Salts (Ireland) Limited. Tullamore, County Offaly are going on short time and dispensing with the services of many workers in their mills; what is the cause of this short time; whether the Government have permitted the import of materials which could be manufactured by this firm; and if he will take steps to remedy this position, having regard to the plight of the many workers concerned.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Disemployment in Tullamore Mills.
20.
I have seen press reports to the effect that the firm to which the Deputy refers is about to go on short time and to lay off a number of its workers. I am advised that this is due to a prolonged slackness in the trade in Britain to which the bulk of this firm's export trade goes.
Apart from materials intended for the re-export trade which are freely admitted, limited imports of materials of a type which could be manufactured by this firm have been admitted duty-free. The purpose of these admissions is to provide additional variety of designs or to provide for special requirements for which the home mills do not cater. In all such cases, duty-free facilities have been accorded only with the concurrence of the firm itself.
Has the Minister taken up this matter with the British Board of Trade to see if they can be of any assistance?
No. There is a recession in the trade in Britain too.
Will the Minister say what is going to become of the 300 workers? Does the Minister not consider it a very serious thing for Tullamore that 300 workers are thrown out of employment? Has the Minister any alternative employment in mind? What is going to become of the unemployed fathers of large families?
Will the Minister say whether he is considering the imposition of a tariff for the protection of this industry and similar industries in the country?
In reply to Deputy Flanagan, it is not true to say that 300 are out of employment. The number is 250 out of a total of 860. There have been from time to time occasional fluctuations in the output of this factory. They arose in 1949, 1952 and 1958. On every occasion, after some weeks, the workers who had to be laid off due to the fluctuations were taken on again. It is hoped on this occasion that after some weeks it will be possible to re-employ the workers.
What are the 250 workers to do in the meantime?
I am fully conscious of the difficulty it will impose on the workers.
Is the Minister aware that some of the workers are technically trained? If some of them go to England in the meantime they will hardly come back. That is the great danger. Will the company run the risk of losing the trained personnel? Can anything be done to meet that very serious situation?
I have no immediate remedy for the provision of employment to absorb these workers but I hope that the recession will soon pass. In reply to Deputy Corish, there is a quota in existence which, as the Deputy appreciates, is the most restrictive form of protection. That quota provides for the importation of 900,000 square yards of cloth. The cloth imported under that quota is not of a type normally produced from yarns made by Salts (Ireland) Ltd.
The Minister must be also aware that, if we become members of the European Economic Community, the quota goes automatically and there will virtually be no protection.
That is not true. There is already a duty on yarns. The Government have already made an order making provision for a tariff on cloth in the event of the quota disappearing.
Was that done recently?
It was done about two or three months ago.
There is provision for a tariff in substitution for the quota?
Yes.
Can the Minister help to find new markets?
I certainly will do anything I can in that respect and also Córas Tráchtála.
Do Córas Tráchtála know about the situation?
They do.
It is a very serious thing for my constituents.