asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if and when the details of the Government's new manpower policy will be made available to Members.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Manpower Policy.
55.
On several recent occasions, I have indicated to the House what will be the broad lines of the Government's manpower policy. I hope to be able to announce from time to time details of the steps which the Government will take to implement such a complex and wide-ranging policy.
Could the Minister say if it is the intention of the Government specifically to direct this manpower policy to an area or to various areas?
That has no relation to the problem at all.
It seems to be a separate question.
I asked when the details of the Government's manpower policy would be available so that I might be able to ask a question——
The Deputy should ask a sensible question if he wants an answer.
It is a very sensible question. Will this policy apply to Cahir in County Tipperary?
That is a separate question.
It is a question of some moment down there. Some 60 men are about to lose their jobs and the town is going to die, while we are talking about manpower policy up here.
I want to make it quite clear to Deputy Lynch, to the House and to the people of Cahir that the fact that this factory is closing down is of concern and we hope—in fact, we intend—before Christmas to introduce a scheme of redundancy. In Cahir they have their own private scheme and other than that I should like to ask the Deputy what he would suggest.
That is the Parliamentary Secretary's business. When I suggested that we should buy three or four helicopters four and a half years ago, nobody would listen to it. They have listened now, but in the case of Cahir, I do not want it to take four and a half years.