asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state in relation to the arbitration involving contracts with the Irish Sugar Company to which he referred in a reply of 5th May, whether the findings have yet been determined; and, if so, what they are.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sugar Contracts.
14.
As I informed the Deputy in reply to his question of 5th May, I was not involved in the arbitration proceedings referred to. The giving of information about them is a matter for the parties concerned.
The Minister says he was not involved. Surely he realises the public were involved, in view of the fact that the Sugar Company belongs to the public. In the circumstances, would the Minister now state what the results of this arbitration were? Was it in favour of the Sugar Company or in favour of the other parties concerned? In view of the replies he gave to this House in connection with the charges that were made by the managing director of the Sugar Company, would the Minister now tell the House what were the results of this arbitration?
According to the published reports of the result of one arbitration, the recommendation of the arbitrator went in favour of the company but the decision of the arbitrator referred only to the manner of fulfilment of the contract between the Sugar Company and the companies concerned. There was no suggestion in the findings of the arbitrator that there was a wholesale illegal traffic in sugar as the Deputy suggests. In regard to the second arbitration proceedings, this matter is still pending and I have no knowledge of what stage it has reached or what the result is likely to be.
I did not suggest there was wholesale illegal traffic in sugar. I repeated what the managing director of the Irish Sugar Company said. In view of the fact that the Sugar Company has been found correct as far as the proceedings of one arbitration are concerned and that the statement of the managing director of the Sugar Company has been proved to be accurate, would the Minister now, in the public interest, have a sworn inquiry into the other allegations made by the managing director, namely, the backroom pressure that was brought to bear on the Minister——
That is a separate matter.
It is one of the charges made by the managing director of the Sugar Company. However, I shall not pursue it further than to ask the Minister if he is now prepared to have a thorough investigation into the accuracy or otherwise of the charges made by the managing director of the Sugar Company.
In so far as the charges to which the Deputy refers included references to profits made out of the illegal exporting of sugar—I think that is a correct interpretation— the findings of the arbitrator in the case that has been decided were that there was no such evidence. The other case is pending and I have no other observation to offer.
Will the Minister make available to the House the findings in the other case at arbitration?
They are not available to me.
I take it the Minister will make them available when he has them?
I have no right to get them.
I shall ask the Minister again.