asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if his attention has been drawn to the closure of a bacon factory; if he has made any efforts to change the directors' decision to close; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Closure of Bacon Factory.
24.
Officers of my Department met directors of the company concerned on 16th January to discuss the company's announcement of the closing of one of their bacon factories. The directors indicated that their decision to close the factory had been taken only after exhaustive consideration and for compelling reasons of rationalising their overall operations, thereby helping them to maintain the business of their four other factories on an economic basis. They made it quite clear that in these circumstances their decision to close the factory was final. They pointed out that the capacity at their other factories was more than adequate to handle supplies of pigs well above the present levels.
Mr. Barrett
Would the Minister consider that steps to attract other bacon interests to take over the factory now made vacant by Messrs. Denny's closure would be fruitful?
My information, for what it is worth, is that Messrs. Denny would not have it so that another bacon interest would take over where they left off.
Mr. Barrett
Could the Minister do anything to make them change their mind if a foreign interest showed anxiety to come over to Cork and take over this factory?
The Deputy seeking this information is in a far better position to answer this question than I am. However, I shall attempt to do it. I take it that the factory, whether held freehold or leasehold, is in the control of this particular company and how they dispose of it or what covenant might be written into the terms of sale would be a matter for them and not for me.
Mr. Barrett
Having regard to the fact that quite an amount of public money has been expended in extending this bacon factory and equipping it as a bacon factory, could I assume that the Minister would be able to bring some pressure to bear on Messrs. Denny in such circumstances?
If these hypothetical circumstances came to pass, we might have something to talk about.
Mr. Barrett
I may have some news to give the Minister tomorrow.
When Messrs. Donnellys was closed in Dublin, it was taken over by Clover Meats of Waterford. The Minister is aware of the number of workers made redundant as a result of the Denny factory closing and surely he could have a discussion with Messrs. Denny's directors to ensure that if they are not going to continue or reopen their factory and if another company comes along, the factory would be made available to them? Public money is involved. Messrs. Denny got a good handout for developing the factory.
Am I right in suggesting that, with all the furore and talk about this factory and that it would be a great investment for somebody else who came along to it, in fact it is a poor premises and a poor factory and one which, even with further greater expenditure, because of its construction on three levels, as I understand its floors are, would be most difficult to make into an efficient unit in an economic sense? That is the position, I understand.
In view of the Minister's statement that this factory is in poor shape and not one which it would be advisable for anyone to take over as a bacon factory, would he not now consider the request of the people of West Cork to locate a new factory there where the pigs are produced?
Now you are getting to it.
I was wondering how long it would take the Deputy to get around to this. If the attraction of killing pigs from the source in West Cork on which Messrs. Denny drew heavily is not sufficient to keep them in Cork I should rather think that is an argument against the setting up of a unit in West Cork to replace that which they have abandoned.
We will have it on the next question.