asked the Minister for Lands if he will indicate why An Bord Iascaigh Mhara have invited proposals from commercial concerns for the acquisition of three fish-processing establishments.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fish-Processing Factories.
80.
The Government's Programme of Sea Fisheries Development published in April last announced in paragraph 18 that, "where factories are held or provided by An Bord Iascaigh Mhara, efforts will be made to induce private or co-operative interests to lease or purchase them." The recent advertisement by the Board is merely aimed at implementing that part of the development programme: indeed, as the White Paper mentioned, offers had been invited for one of the factories even before its publication.
I should like to make it clear that there is no question of closing down factories which are in operation: the object is to transfer them, as going concerns, to private or co-operative enterprise if acceptable proposals are received. The underlying idea is to relieve An Bord Iascaigh Mhara, as far as practicable, of direct participation in commercial operations which can be effectively handled by private or co-operative interests and thus enable the Board to concentrate more intensively on development activities for the expansion of landings and sales of fish. On the processing side it is encouraging that a number of private firms have already proceeded with the construction or extension of fish processing factories.
I should also like to take this opportunity of making it clear that the fish meal plant advertised at Killybegs is a small pilot plant associated with the Board's processing establishment: it is not the fish meal factory which has already been leased to a Danish firm which is, I understand, operating very satisfactorily.
In the disposal of these three establishments, can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether or not there will be a reserve price?
I think we will jump that hurdle when we meet it.
The House would like to be assured now that they are not going to be given away.
To some pals.
I am not talking about pals.
The Parliamentary Secretary said he had an offer for one of these factories, even before he advertised them. Would the Parliamentary Secretary say what factory was that and how much was the offer?
I can say it was for the Schull factory and the offer was turned down for the very reason which prompted Deputy Corish to ask his supplementary question.
About how much was offered?
I do not intend to give that.
I suppose it would not be one-twentieth of what it cost.
Question No. 81.
Deputy Flanagan will tell you how much it cost.
I know how much the one in Galway cost. It was stated in the Budget that it was going to be built in Dunmore but it was switched to Galway.
Frozen assets.
And the Minister for Transport and Power said it was a misprint in the Budget. I have that on the record of the House.
Finnegan's follies.
Order!
It is the Ministers who started this.
And the fishermen will be sold into the hands of the fishmongers. That is Fianna Fáil policy for the fishermen but they will not be there for ever.
If the Ministers want it, they will get enough of it.
Is it not a fact that the fishmongers presented the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Lands with a big cod very recently?
He gave it back again because he was not a suitable recipient.