asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether, in view of the present low level of employment in the Liffey Dockyard, Irish Shipping Limited will have their repair work done in this country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Shipping Limited Repair Work.
35.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to a similar question on the 22nd October, 1959. I am satisfied that the Company continue to have their vessels overhauled and repaired at Irish yards whenever it is feasible and economic to do so and I am aware that in the past year a considerable amount of such work has been placed with the Liffey Dockyard.
Is the Minister aware that 60 per cent. of the men employed in the Liffey Dockyard have been laid off in the past six months? Is he also aware that the "Irish Holly," scheduled for repairs at the Liffey Dockyards, was diverted to Liverpool? Is he further aware that the "Irish Hawthorn" was diverted from Sweden to Holland for overhaul when it could easily have been sent to Cork or Dublin, and that the "Irish Oak," which was due for survey and overhaul, was sent to Glasgow for repairs? Surely that is not in keeping with the Minister's reply.
I do know it is the Minister's policy—and certainly it is mine—to make available to Irish dockyards any work Irish Shipping has to offer. There are very good reasons why any such work is diverted, largely economic, largely the fact that many of the vessels are on charter and are operating outside our own waters. There is a good and valid reason for Irish Shipping to have work carried out in yards outside Ireland.
Would the Minister ascertain why these ships to which I referred were not sent to the Liffey Dockyard?
For my part, I shall be making inquiries anyway; that is my job.