asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if a company (name supplied) have been granted permission to take over the CIE coach building plant at Spa Road Works, Inchicore, Dublin; if so, if a grant has been or is being provided by the IDA for this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - CIE Coach Building Plant.
39.
As industrial proposals must be treated as confidential, I am not in a position to make an announcement on this matter.
I wonder whether the Minister has seen a newspaper report of this morning to the effect that the negotiations are at an advanced stage and also that one of the members of the negotiating team of CIE has resigned and joined this new company? Would the Minister not consider it very important that this matter be brought before the public since CIE receive their money through the Dáil? I think the Minister is entitled to make a statement in this matter.
I have stated already that proposals before the IDA are confidential. Therefore, I am not in a position to make a statement on the matter. However, in relation to this particular matter I can say that the whole object of the exercise is to improve the position and to consolidate the position of the workers.
Is this in line with the McKinsey Report?
It is an off-shoot of it.
Is the Minister not aware that McKinsey did not recommend the hiving off of this section?
I am not so aware.
Then the Minister had better read the report.
Could we move on to some other questions? Question No. 40.
Were the unions consulted?
The employees of the works have been consulted constantly. I can tell the Deputy that I have read the report to which he refers and, also, that I have read previous reports that were issued in December and January. The indications are that CIE were in constant communication with the employees in this regard.
May I tell the Minister that CIE told the workers they would inform them as negotiations developed. Does the fact that one of the chief negotiators has resigned and joined this other company not cast aspersions on the whole nature of the negotiations?
The Deputy is saying that the action of one of the employees of CIE casts aspersions on the whole operation. I should like to take this opportunity of saying that, as I see the position, the end product of this operation, if the transfer is successful, will be an improvement for the workers and more security for them.
May I ask the Minister——
No, we must move on.
Can the Minister say why the possibility of a CIE-Van Hool-McArdle operation has not been considered? Van Hool employ 300 workers at Spa Road. They are interested in the operation only because it is viable. Why could CIE not combine with them?
Would the Deputy please resume his seat and allow questions to continue? He cannot monopolise Question Time.
I am not trying to do so.
The Deputy has already asked six supplementaries on his question.