andMr. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether a factory (name supplied) at Newtown, Bantry, built with the aid of State grant and now lying vacant, has been considered for new industry; and, if not, if he can allay the fears of local people that this potential factory is to be let as a storage warehouse.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bantry Factory.
14.
I understand that the question of the future of this factory may involve legal proceedings. In these circumstances, it would not be appropriate for me to make any statement at present beyond saying that I think it desirable that the premises should continue in the future to be used for a manufacturing industry.
Is the Minister or his Department taking any steps to promote an industry in the factory at the present time?
The answer to that in general is "yes" but it might be misleading if it were to suggest that there was a particular project involved. As I have indicated there is a question of legal proceedings here and it is not possible to interest a promoter in setting up in the near future with the possibility of legal proceedings hanging over the premises.
Surely the Minister will agree that there is a special obligation on him, his Department and the Industrial Development Authority to take a special interest in this project having regard to the blunders made by all three of them in allocating a grant to the former owner of this factory the first day? Will the Minister further state if any personnel within his Department or within the Industrial Development Authority lost their positions as a result of the serious blunders made in allocating public funds where, to put it mildly, public funds should not be allocated?
Since the suggestion by the Deputy of blunders is unfounded the second part of the supplementary question does not arise.
Question No. 15.
With your permission I will ask another supplementary. In view of the Minister's statement that the term "blunders" should not have arisen is it not a blunder for his Department or for the Industrial Development Authority to allocate a grant to the former owner of this factory having regard to the credentials which he held? Is it not a blunder to pay public funds to a man who did not fare very well in an adjoining country where this was well known to everybody at the time the money was paid? The bursar seems amused. I hope he is taking note as to how his money is being spent.
Our money.
We cannot have a debate on this question.
I asked the Minister and his predecessor, hoping that without mentioning this type of blunder some effective steps would be taken to rectify the great errors which have been made. If you prefer "errors" to "blunders" I am satisfied to substitute that. Can I say to the people of Bantry town and district that an industry will be located in the factory in the not too distant future.
I would hope that this would be so. In fact, I would be reasonably confident it would when the legal difficulties have been overcome.
Thank you.