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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 29 Jun 1965

Vol. 217 No. 1

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Closing of US Shannon Firms.

7.

asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he can state (a) the date on which the US firm, Pall, commenced production at Shannon, (b) the amount in State grants and other concessions received by the firm, (c) the number of employees at the date of closure, (d) the reasons for the closure, and (e) the prospects of providing alternative employment for the disemployed workers.

Production commenced in February, 1963. Grants totalling £37,213 were paid to the company towards the cost of machinery and the training of workers. The company are honouring their commitments to repay these grants. As it is not the practice to disclose information about the private affairs of industrial concerns, I am not prepared to supply the particulars requested in respect of the number of persons employed. It is understood that the principal reason for the closing down of the firm was a falling off of the company's market for its products in the United States. A large proportion of the disemployed workers has already been placed in alternative employment in the Industrial Estate and it is expected that most of the remaining workers will be offered employment as vacancies arise in other factories in the Estate.

Could the Minister give any undertaking that the other companies operating in the Estate will look first to these displaced workers when `seeking new employees? Has he any contact with them to see that these redundant workers are looked after?

I gather the company in charge of the Estate is trying to arrange for that priority for workers in so far as it can be applied.

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