Vol. 218 No. 2
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in view of growing widespread anxiety in the motor assembly industry about serious unemployment consequent on the establishment of a free trade area between this country and Britain, he will have special steps taken to ensure a continuity of employment for all those who are now engaged in that industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
117.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, having regard to the widespread anxiety in the motor assembly industry about the consequences to that industry of a free trade area between this country and Britain, he will make a statement to allay the fears of management and workers in that industry.
I propose, with your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 116 and 117 together.
At the present stage of the negotiations with Britain it is not possible to say what final proposals may emerge or how the motor assembly industry may be affected.
Are we to take it this is the only comfort the Minister offers to the motor assembly industry at present? Can the Minister give any indication as to when some definite information will be available in relation to the free trade area, particularly as it affects the motor assembly industry?
I was not offering comfort to anybody.
You're telling me!
I was not attempting to offer comfort. The representatives of the industry have had the hypothetical situation explained to them and I think they are quite aware——
But not happy.
I am not saying they are happy, but they are aware of the position in the event of a certain trading agreement being reached.
Unemployment.
I take it the workers are not aware yet.
Is it not a fact that one of these motor assembly industries has already indicated that it is prepared to change into alternative production in order to keep its workers in employment and, in the event of any such company not being in a position to continue its workers in employment, is it not true that steps are being taken in the Minister's Department for the purpose of re-training these workers and absorbing them into some other employment?
Would the Minister say how relevant the CIO Report would be in the circumstances of free trade?
The CIO Reports were based on what would happen with the emergence of free trade and they estimated a reduction of existing employment in industry of about seven per cent, which would be more than compensated by increased employment in other areas. That is why the Parliamentary Secretary is preparing a manpower policy for the purpose of making skilled workers available in new industries, making such labour mobile and making re-training possible should unemployment occur.
Does the Minister visualise any unemployment in this industry?
I did not say so.
I am asking the Minister.
This is the whole reason the Parliamentary Secretary has been charged with getting the manpower policy into action. There will be changes in employment in some types of industry. Some workers in this industry must be retrained and must be channelled into other employment. We shall need skilled workers in other industry.
They will be placed by 1970.
This is the whole idea of a manpower policy.
There are still over 100 questions to be answered.
Can the Minister give an assurance that the motor assembly plants here which have not got a British parent company will not be put into an invidious position by anything which may be negotiated between this country and Britain in the next few weeks?
The Deputy is asking me to give an assurance that life will never change for anybody and that everything will always be comfortable. That is not likely to happen in this or any other country.
We do not want it to change for the worse.
We have to meet realities and either sink or swim. I do not think we are going to sink.
You do not want to be steamrolled in the process. Free Trade is the oldest idea in existence.
