asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he has seen a report concerning the Weir Textile Mills, Tuam, and the possibility that they may re-open in the near future; and if he has any statement to make in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tuam (Galway) Textile Mills.
26.
I have seen the report to which the Deputy refers. The factory at Tuam was facilitated by a grant from An Foras Tionscal, a new manufacture licence and duty-free licences for the importation of raw materials required for production for export. As indicated by me in reply to a question on 11th December last, the firm's main problem appears to have been one of difficulty in obtaining export markets for their products.
The Industrial Development Authority have, I understand, with the firm's agreement brought the closing of the factory to the notice of certain external interests who, it is thought, might be interested in taking it over. There have been no positive developments in any of these contacts to date, but I can assure the Deputy that any sound proposals submitted to me for the reopening of the factory will receive my most sympathetic consideration.
Is the Minister aware that according to a report in the Herald and Western Advertiser, incorporating the Tuam Herald, on February 9th last, a spokesman for the mills is reported as having said that unless there is a change in the attitude of the Department, he could not see any prospect of the mills in Tuam being reopened? In view of the fact that there are 72 workers unemployed there since 1st December, would the Minister now clarify the conflicting report?
I think that is the same report to which the Deputy referred in his original question.
That is the report.
I saw the remarks of the spokesman of the company saying certain things could be done if the Department changed their attitude. I can apply that only to an application by this company for an amendment of their New Manufacture Licence. As I said, this company got many facilities, including a substantial grant and a New Manufacture Licence in respect of other goods which enabled them to produce these for sale on the Irish market. Before I can grant, or extend, a New Manufacture Licence, I must be satisfied that the goods proposed to be manufactured are not already being manufactured to an adequate extent by existing concerns. In this case the application for a New Manufacture Licence referred to cloths that were already being manufactured by existing private Irish concerns which were in no way assisted by grants when they were set up. If the licence were amended, as proposed by the company, it would mean that that company could make goods for sale on the Irish market and would thereby affect the mills already producing similar goods.
This is the free trade he is talking about.
I am bound by statute to have regard to these factors. In the circumstances, the law did not permit me to extend the New Manufacture Licence as requested. I should like to say generally that the company was set up for the purpose of exporting the type of cloth they now want to sell on the home market, and there is no room for it here.