asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in view of the undertaking which he gave on 29th August, 1973, that the IDA intended to continue their endeavours to secure an alternative industry for Portlaoise and that the premises of Irish Worsted Mills would be used for manufacturing purposes in the future, he will make a statement on the consultations which took place with the Department of Posts and Telegraphs in regard to the purchase of the premises.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Portlaoise Property Sale.
51.
The position regarding the premises at Portlaoise, formerly occupied by Irish Worsted Mills Ltd., is that these premises having been purchased, at public auction, on behalf of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, arrangements are now being made for their transfer to the Industrial Development Authority. This is being done in order that the premises would be available for an industrial project. The IDA will be continuing their efforts to secure such a project.
52.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce why the premises formerly owned by Irish Worsted Mills in Portlaoise, County Laois, were not originally purchased by the IDA for the preservation of industrial employment for the town; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
53.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the steps being taken at present to find a replacement industry for the premises formerly used by Irish Worsted Mills at Portlaoise, County Laois.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 53 together.
The firm to which the Deputy refers has been in receivership since November, 1972, and the receiver decided that the firm's fixed assets, including the premises, should be disposed of by way of sale at public auction. It was not possible therefore for the IDA to purchase the factory premises in advance of their being sold at public auction by the receiver.
From the time the firm went into receivership the IDA have been endeavouring to secure for the premises a suitable replacement industry and to this end have had discussions with a number of interested parties. The IDA will continue their efforts to find a suitable alternative project for the premises.
Could the Minister inform the House why in view of a promise given by the Minister's predecessor and, according to Press reports, renewed by the present Minister, that these premises would be kept for industrial purposes, he allowed the IDA to withdraw and not bid any further than £120,000 at the auction, when they subsequently went to £150,000 to repurchase it from the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, who had originally been bidding against them?
Might I ask the Minister——
Get the Minister's reply to that first.
If the Minister wishes. The Chair feels that sufficient mileage has been got from this subject already.
Deputy O.J. Flanagan is trying to restore his losses.
Might I suggest to the Chair that the House should be asked to obey his ruling? Arising out of the Minister's reply, is it not a fact that if the money which was ploughed by Fianna Fáil into the Fenian Gun Company at Birr owned by a British agent had been given to the Irish Worsted Mills this position would not have arisen? The mills closed down because they were not given the money. You ploughed it into the Fenian Gun Company.
I would ask the Minister——
You gave the money to the Fenian Gun Company at Birr.
I would like to ask the Minister if he can tell us how much State money was pumped into the Irish Worsted Mills in view of the fact that the Minister for Finance said that Fóir Teoranta are the principal shareholders?
That is a separate question.
In reply to Deputy Lalor's first supplementary, what the IDA said was that in so far as possible they would endeavour to ensure that the factory be retained for an industrial project.
That was not what they said.
I have it written down here. They then got the premises valued. The valuation was £120,000 and at that figure at the auction the IDA dropped out of the bidding. Subsequently, by arrangement between a private individual and the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, the premises were sold to that Department at which stage Deputy Flanagan got in touch with the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs who arranged immediately to have the premises handed over to the IDA for an industrial project. At the moment the IDA are discussing with a number of people the possibility of starting an industry in the premises. Regarding Deputy Flanagan's supplementary, I have no information as to the Fenian gunrunning club. I cannot remember what was Deputy Lalor's last supplementary.
I asked the Minister how much the State had already put into the Irish Worsted Mills in an effort to keep them going.
I do not appear to have that information.
(Interruptions.)
The remaining Questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.
Because of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply to Question No. 1 I wish, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
With your permission, Sir, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of Question No. 15.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of Question No. 1.
The Chair will communicate with Deputies Blaney, Crinion and Loughnane.
They will have to line up for priority.
The Chair wishes to draw the attention of the House to the omission from today's Order Paper of a line of print. In item No. 5 there should be two Supplementary Estimates for Local Government and not one as appears on the Order Paper.