Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 Jun 1964

Vol. 211 No. 6

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - German Industry in Dundalk.

7.

Mr. Corish

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that a German firm (name supplied) had made arrangements to take over portion of the old GNR workshops at present under the control of the Dundalk Engineering Works and to begin manufacturing there; and that this firm has now decided not to come to Dundalk because of alleged breach of contract on the part of the Dundalk Engineering Works with regard to the premises which were to be supplied to the German firm; and if he will, in view of the pressing need for greater employment opportunities in Dundalk, investigate this matter with a view to ensuring that the new industry be enabled to start work there.

8.

Mr. Corish

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that six men who had been employees of the Dundalk Engineering Works were sent to Germany to train with a German firm (name supplied) which intended to set up in Dundalk by arrangement between this firm and the Dundalk Engineering Works; and that these men, despite the complete satisfaction of the German firm with their work, were sent home before the training period elapsed on account of alleged breach of contract by the Dundalk Engineering Works; and whether, in view of the fact that these men are now rendered redundant and that the Dundalk Engineering Works will accept no further responsibility for them, he will take steps to ensure that they receive compensation or alternative employment from the Dundalk Engineering Works.

Mr. J. Lynch

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take these two questions together.

The matters raised in the questions relate to the day-to-day business activities of a commercial firm in which I do not interfere.

Mr. Corish

Is it not a bit thick for the Minister to describe this as a private commercial firm when even he admitted in connection with his Estimate within the past few days that there was a substantial amount of the taxpayers' money invested in it? In view of what is alleged to have happened, will the Minister not cause an investigation to be set up to ensure there will not be any further abuse of Irish workers, or Dundalk workers as happened in this case?

Mr. J. Lynch

I am aware of the circumstances that have given rise to these two questions but I do not think they are circumstances in which I ought to interfere. They are matters for the Irish Industrial Engineering Company and the German firm with which they had negotiations about the establishment of a location for manufacturing in Dundalk. I see no reason why I should interfere because of the eventualities that have occurred.

Mr. Corish

But this is not purely day-to-day administration in the accepted sense. This is a case where six Dundalk men who had been offered jobs in Arklow were promised that they would be employed in Dundalk Engineering Works after a period of training in Germany. They went to Germany and their training was cut short by the breach of contract between the Dundalk Engineering Works and the German firm. As a result of that they lost the jobs they could have taken up in Arklow, and apart from that, they were deprived of moneys due to them by reason of their training. I think the Minister must be concerned about this in that he, as representative of the Irish taxpayer, has a considerable amount of money invested in this firm.

Mr. J. Lynch

The Deputy referred in one of his questions to a breach of contract by the Dundalk Engineering Works and if there is such a breach, those who have been damaged by it have the right to sue in the civil courts for redress.

Mr. Corish

Does the Minister mean the six workers or the German industrialist?

Mr. J. Lynch

It is a matter for either the industrialists or the workers to take proper advice on it.