asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will make a statement in regard to the future of car assembly workers in this country; and if steps will be taken to ensure that there will be no lay-off of workers in this industry.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Car Assembly Workers.
165.
Negotiations, aimed at ensuring the continuation of motor vehicle assembly in the country on a long term basis, are at present taking place. Pending the outcome of these negotiations, I am not in a position to make a statement.
Would the Minister say who are taking part in the negotiations?
They are taking place between the Department of Industry and Commerce, the British Government authorities, the British manufacturers of motor vehicles and the Irish assemblers of motor vehicles.
I assume the Minister is aware of what Deputy Booth said in relation to this matter on television?
I am not aware of what he said on television. I know what his views are because he has discussed the matter with me at some length.
The Minister states that the negotiations are going on with the British people and our own people. Will these negotiations have any effect if we are in the Common Market? Can they protect us from colossal imports of continental cars?
We are talking about something in advance. Assume at the moment that some arrangement is arrived at as a result of the present negotiations which are going on and that this arrangement is in operation when we are going into the Common Market. At that stage when we would be conducting our negotiations with the Common Market, we would naturally try to conduct the negotiations so as to ensure the continuance of such an arrangement. I cannot say at this stage whether such negotiations would be successful or not. They could be fully successful or partly successful. Therefore I cannot speculate beyond that point as to what might happen.
It seems from what the Minister has said that the negotiations are confined to British interests. Having regard to the fact that we are assembling cars here the components of which are made in France, Germany and Italy, would the Minister say what steps are being taken to protect the interests of those working in these concerns?
The reason the British manufacturers are concerned is the operation of the Free Trade Area Agreement.
That being a backwash on the others.
Yes, but there is no change in the situation relating to continental manufacturers of motor cars.
But there is, vis-á-vis their British competitors.
Yes. Of course, this is one of the effects of the Free Trade Area Agreement.
To what extent will the trade unions who represent the workers be kept in touch with the negotiations and made aware of what is going on?
I have already informed the representative of Congress that I will inform him fully as soon as we are in a position to tell him anything.
About the decision?
The Deputy will appreciate that whether such an arrangement is to operate or not depends very largely on the people who put their money into it. He will also appreciate that the principal reason for the efforts being made by the Government in this regard is to ensure the employment of the workers concerned. As soon as we have reached the stage where there are definite arrangements that can be discussed, the union representatives will be informed.
Would the Minister say, if it is found that the operation of the Trade Agreement is to the disadvantage of the assemblers of continental cars here, whether or not he will take steps to reduce the levy on continental cars assembled here in order to meet it?
That is a separate question.
I would have to wait until such a situation arose and consider all the relevant circumstances before I could answer that.