Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 13 Feb 1963

Vol. 199 No. 10

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - State Grants to Canadian Printing Interests.

38.

Mr. Spring

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, further to replies of 7th February with regard to proposals that State grants be made to Canadian interests which propose to enter the printing trade in this country, he is aware that much of the disquiet in the printing industry on this subject is due to the disputes already caused, and likely to be caused in the future, among the craft printing trade unions in Dublin owing to the refusal of the Canadian interests concerned to deal with more than one union, and to the fact that the one union concerned represents the interests of Dublin workers only, whereas the interests of printing workers throughout the country may well be affected; and whether, in the light of such disquiet, he still considers it desirable to extend State aid to these interests.

39.

Mr. Spring

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether, in considering the granting of State aid to Canadian interests in entering the printing trade in this country, it will be borne in mind that the particular interests concerned have more than ample financial resources, apart from any money paid to them by the Irish State; and whether he is certain that the entry of these interests to the Irish printing trade will appreciably increase employment in this country.

40.

Mr. Spring

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that the Canadian interests who propose to enter the printing trade in this country are widely believed to have the intention of setting up two firms, one with State aid which will export its products, and another which will compete in the home market, the setting up of the second being dependent on the receipt of State aid to the first; and that the products of the State-aided firm could most readily be used for competition on the home market by the second firm; and whether any certain degree of control either can or will be exercised by the State to ascertain whether all the products of the State-aided firm are in fact exported, and not used for the home market by the second firm.

Mr. Childers

I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 38, 39 and 40 together. I would refer the Deputy to the reply which I made on 7th instant to previous questions on this subject. The proposals for the establishment of the industry are at a preliminary stage only. The detailed proposals which the Industrial Development Authority are at present awaiting will cover all aspects of the matter, including those to which the Deputy has referred. In the event of an application for a grant being made by the promoters to An Foras Tionscal, the Board of An Foras Tionscal must be satisfied before making a grant that financial assistance is necessary for the establishment of the industry. The Board would take into account also all other relevant considerations.

As I indicated in my reply to previous Parliamentary Questions on this subject, the industry, if established, will be exclusively engaged in the export trade. It is the practice of An Foras Tionscal to make it a condition in appropriate cases that industries which receive grants carry on an export trade only and it would be possible for An Foras Tionscal to impose a similar condition in the particular case in question in the event of an application for a grant being made to and approved by the Board.