asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if his attention has been drawn to reports to the effect that the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance attracted an industry to Limerick; if he is aware that negotiations had been in progress for the establishment of the industry elsewhere in the State; and what criteria determine the placing of industries.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Siting of Industries.
26.
I have seen references in the Press to the proposed establishment of a large industry in Limerick.
As the Deputy is, no doubt, aware any proposals for the establishment of new industries which are submitted to Government Departments or to the Industrial Development Authority must be treated confidentially and I am accordingly not in a position to discuss the details of such proposals in any way.
The Deputy will appreciate that the decision as to the most suitable location for an industry is a matter which must rest entirely with the promoters of the project.
Is the Minister aware that in Drogheda the position was that everything asked for by the industrialists concerned was given to them by the then Mayor of Drogheda, sent to them by his Corporation, but following that we find a member of the Cabinet being congratulated for moving that industry to Limerick? Do members of the Cabinet have a say——
The Deputy should know by now that the Industrial Development Authority are not influenced in regard to the location of industries. He should have experience himself of groups of people promoting industries appearing to be satisfied but then going somewhere else. That is well known to industrial development associations.
Then, are these newspaper reports to the effect that a member of the Cabinet was responsible for having this industry located in Limerick——
Members of the Cabinet do not influence the Industrial Development Authority to direct an industry to a particular area. If we started to do it, we should all be in lunatic asylums.
One of the Fianna Fáil "Whiz Kids" stole it.
Is the Minister aware that during the past nine months negotiations were proceeding with regard to the location of this industry in Limerick and that the Limerick Harbour Commissioners, of which I am a member, deputed the Parliamentary Secretary and that we are all very glad the Parliamentary Secretary was able to bring the industry to Limerick?
And stole it from Drogheda.
Is the Minister aware that four industries have been established in Drogheda during the past three years? Is he also aware we are making strenuous efforts to get further industries? Certainly, I shall not apologise to anybody for my efforts to have industries established in Drogheda.
Does the Deputy not want five?
I do, and we shall get five.
You will not get that one. You had it stolen by one of the three Fianna Fáil "Whiz Kids".