asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that the flour mills of Messrs. Going and Smith, Cahir, County Tipperary have now been completely closed down; if, in view of the disquieting rumours at present circulating in the area, he will make a full statement as to the financial position of this mill; and if, in view of the hardship involved to the mill workers who have been disemployed, he will take steps to ensure the setting up of some alternative industry in the area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Tipperary Flour Mill.
54.
I am aware that Messrs. Going and Smith have ceased to engage in the milling of flour. My responsibilities under the Agricultural Produce (Cereals) Acts do not require me to examine the financial position of flour mills.
I regret very much that workers should be disemployed in Cahir, or in any part of the country, and I shall be glad to consider any proposals which may be put to me for the establishment of a sound industry in the Cahir area.
The Minister is surely aware as a result of certain matters raised here that the mill concerned has been the mainstay of the town of Cahir for over 100 years and the milling section has not closed down? Is he further aware that a serious threat exists to the ancillary businesses carried on by the company, that is, the provender and bakery sides of the business and that some 40 employees are now under dismissal notice? Having regard to the fact that the closure of these sections will bring economic chaos to the town concerned and tremendous hardship to the families of the employees involved, will the Minister intercede and do something to maintain at least the sections of the mill which are still operating, the provender section and the bakery section?
I have no power to require private enterprise to keep going. I have asked the IDA and Foras Tionscal to see what they can do about establishing a new, viable industry. I do not know of anything I could do to make a viable proposition of the milling industry in Cahir as it stands.
Am I to take it the Minister can do nothing?
No, I cannot.
That is cold comfort for the workers in Cahir.
Is this not all part of a scheme which your predecessor approved, enabling the millers of the country to eliminate the small mills to the advantage of the large modern mills in Dublin, Cork and Limerick? How can the Minister say he does not know about it?
There was a scheme but I do not think this mill could survive. They took advantage of a renewal of the scheme, a renewal which was at the request of the small mills.
A scheme worked out with your predecessor.
It was a request from mills which, in the absence of such a scheme, would not have survived.
Going and Smith have been in operation for over 100 years and could have gone on longer.
Is the Minister aware that some of the operatives who remain there under dismissal notice have not as yet been given their severance pay? Having regard to the difficult financial position of the mill, will he ensure that in accordance with his economic planning and manpower policy, the severance pay for these workers will be met and that some attempt will be made to retrain and absorb them in alternative employment in accordance with the Minister's manpower policy proposals?
Provision was made for redundancy payment to the workers and this is one of the things which would not be there, were it not for this scheme so despised by Deputy Dillon. The mill would still have closed down without such a scheme. Provision was made for the payment of the workers.
The workers cannot get their money out of it.