asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the policy of the Government in relation to companies which were established with the aid of State grants for the purpose of engaging in a particular type of manufacture and which at a later date decide to use the same plant and machinery in order to enter into direct competition with other Irish industries already established by private capital.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - State-Aided Industries.
28.
Firms establishing industries in the country with the aid of grants from An Foras Tionscal enter into a legal agreement which provides, inter alia, that no goods other than those specified in the agreement shall be manufactured for sale on the home market without the consent of An Foras Tionscal. If the Deputy is aware of any case in which there has been a deviation from such an agreement, and gives me the necessary particulars, I will bring the matter to the attention of An Foras Tionscal.
If there is a deviation, can the Minister impose any penalty?
Yes. The agreement to which I have referred is statutorily enforceable under the 1963 Act and the remedies, I think, are set out in the agreement and, therefore, are enforceable under that Act.