asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will state with reference to a reply of 25th November 1965 concerning a Dublin registered company which had come under unfavourable notice because of questionable activities in Africa, whether he is aware that the company is still operating; if any police action was or will be taken against the company; and if further steps will be taken to warn African interests against the activities of the company.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Activities of Dublin Company.
2.
Following the reply to the Dáil Question of the 25th November, 1965, to which the Deputy refers the principal shareholder of Industrial Products Ltd, 1 St. Joseph's Avenue, Drumcondra, Mr. Rex Glenny, wrote to the Taoiseach in the following terms:—
I was gravely concerned to learn from the press report that the Government considers the activities of this Company and of Messrs. Leprechaun Food Products Ltd overseas to be detrimental to the good name of the country. These activities are, therefore, being terminated forthwith. No further advertisement material will be despatched and all overseas advertisement contracts have been cancelled.
Apart from the honouring of outstanding contractual obligations, business will be ended as quickly as practicable.
As I informed the Deputy some weeks ago, in my letter of the 11th instant, if he can let me have any evidence to show that the above undertaking to the Taoiseach has not been kept, I shall take steps to have the matter investigated immediately.
I am grateful to the Taoiseach for his reply but I am not too certain of the dates of the latest developments. I have since forwarded correspondence to the Minister for External Affairs. Does the Minister deem it appropriate that this concern should advertise that it is in a position to obtain advances from the World Bank, in the case in point, a loan of £35,000 from the World Bank in exchange for a fee of £6. 2. 0, and that it holds itself forth as being capable of doing this for persons whose means do not exceed £5? Will the Government ensure that steps are taken to see to it that gullible people in countries abroad are not misled in this regard? This is creating a bad reputation for and causing harm to the Irish nation in general.
Up to the time of coming into the House, I was not aware, and nobody had told me, that the Deputy has since forwarded information to the Department of External Affairs. As regards negotiation of loans of the magnitude suggested for the consideration involved, I can only agree with what the Deputy expressed in the letter to the Minister for External Affairs, that it showed the utmost naivety on the part of the alleged clients of this firm. As regards the general activities of the firm and where activities of a like nature are concerned, every step it is possible to take was taken at the time by way of informing our Embassy in Nigeria, which was the country principally involved in these transactions, and we succeeded in getting through to the regimes of the other countries in Africa where we were told this business was being operated, a similar indication that they were not to regard this as a genuine undertaking.
I should like to mention that it was only within the past 48 hours——
Is the Deputy asking a question, because I cannot allow a debate on the matter at this stage?
Yes. I think it would be proper for me to point out that it was only within the past 48 hours that I received permission to disclose the correspondence which has since gone to the Minister for External Affairs.
I appreciate that.
And the country in this case is Zambia, which indicates that this type of undesirable activity is spread over a wide field.
There are several other African states involved.
When the original question was put down by me two years ago, the then Taoiseach indicated he would stop the financial activities of this gentleman. Surely the Taoiseach then should have made every effort to ensure that harm which was being done to Irish nationals as a result of advertisement coming from Dublin suggesting to persons that very substantial loans could be obtained, should not be done and that everything possible would be done to see that the office was closed down? I certainly thought that this company should have been put out of business here.
There were legal implications involved and I am sure the Taoiseach at the time was advised of and took whatever action was open to him.
But he did not come back into the House and say that he was going to do what he promised me he would do.