asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he has changed the decision of his predecessor to allow the Dairy Disposal Company to build a milk powder plant at Cratloe, County Clare.
14.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dairy Disposal Company.
13.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will make a statement on the likelihood of continuity of employment for the workers employed by the Dairy Disposal Company at Lansdowne, Limerick.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 14 together.
As I indicated in reply to questions on 7th June, I have been in touch with co-operative and other interests in regard to the future of the Dairy Disposal Company's properties in Limerick and Clare. My discussions with these interests are still in progress and I shall make an announcement on the matter when they have been completed.
As regards the workers at the company's Lansdowne factory, I have already made it clear that in any plans for the future of the factory full regard will be had to the interests of the workers there.
Does the Minister appreciate that if he changes the decision made by his predecessor to build the plant at Cratloe, it will inevitably result in unemployment for approximately 300 workers in the Lansdowne factory at the moment?
May I ask the Minister to ensure that whatever plant is built in that area or in any other area the control of the processing carried out there will not be allowed to get into the hands of foreigners as it has been in the past?
Can the Minister indicate the co-operatives that have been consulted with regard to the taking-over of this condensed milk company?
The Deputy is aware already that Mitchelstown and Golden Vale were consulted and, more recently, the supplying creameries to Lansdowne.
I do not think that what the Minister has said is quite true.
The Deputy may not make a statement at Question Time.
In respect of the co-operatives that I have in mind, I want an assurance from the Minister now that this co-operative will be consulted fully, together with the suppliers concerned before any decision is reached regarding the handing over of the condensed milk company to either Mitchelstown or Charleville.
I do not know to what co-operative the Deputy is referring.
I am referring to the federation of creameries whose representatives the Minister refused to meet and who have been turned down.
That is not true.
It is true.
Order.
The Minister met them under pressure from me.
The Deputy ought not impute an untruth to the Minister.
As the Deputy knows well I have already met the managers from the creameries concerned and I told them that if they had a proposition to make, they were still free to do so. That still remains the position.
Question No. 15.
Can the Minister give me an assurance that in respect of this matter, in which 400 to 450 employees are involved, no decision will be taken until full consultation has taken place——
The Deputy has asked that question already.
——with the people concerned from Clare, from Limerick and from the trade unions involved?
Would the Minister be good enough to answer my supplementary?
Perhaps the Minister would answer my supplementary also.
This must be the Minister's final comment on the question. We cannot debate it all day.
Deputy O'Malley referred to the changing of a decision that had been made by my predecessor. I have not changed any decision yet, I am simply looking at the problem before reaching any decision.
Is it not a fact that the Minister's predecessor agreed with and gave the go-ahead to the Dairy Disposal Company to build a plant at Cratloe, that the machinery has been ordered, that planning permission has been obtained, that they are ready to begin immediately and that if they do not start immediately, they will not be ready in time for next season's milk?
My predecessor made a decision in 1971. He was in office until 1973 but that decision had not been implemented because there was a certain amount of disagreement and obstruction.
Because there was a great deal of difficulty in getting planning permission but that permission has now been obtained.
It is not quite right to say that planning permission has now been obtained. Planning permission has been obtained for a different site but, however, no decision——
Planning permission has been obtained in respect of a site that is 20 yards from the original site.
I have called Question No. 15.
I want the Minister to realise——
The Chair has called Question No. 15 and must be obeyed in these matters.
——that if he goes back on Deputy Gibbons's decision, there will be 300 people out of work in Limerick.
The Chair has called the next question.
May I have an answer to my question? On a point of order, I want a specific answer to my question. Will no action be taken until such time——
The Deputy is being disorderly.
Deputy Coughlan will speak for the people of Limerick at all times.
The Deputy may not disrupt the business of Question Time. I have already passed from that question.
Will the Minister give me that assurance? The answer is in the negative.