asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that there is a large number of lay-offs in the furniture industry in County Meath; and if he has any plans to help the firms concerned.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meath Furniture Industry.
31.
I am not aware that the position is as stated by the Deputy. The services of my Department and of the Industrial Development Authority are available to any firms in difficulties.
There were redundancies last week and more are expected, and there are great fears——
A question, Deputy, please.
Is the Minister aware that there are great fears in the furniture industry, particularly in Navan, that they will not be able to make a profit and that there will be further redundancies?
My information is that the number of redundancies in Meath in the recent past in the furniture industry was five people, two of whom have since been re-employed. Therefore the number of redundancies is three. The Deputy will be aware also that in my own Department, and more specifically in the IDA, there is what is called a rescue service. There is a brisk mechanism whereby firms who get into difficulties can notify these difficulties in advance and help can be given to them.
I would inform the Deputy that no such approaches to the IDA rescue service or to my Department have been made by the furniture industry in County Meath. Recently I had extensive contacts with the furniture industry. Of course, there is a time of uncertainty in a number of ways in many industries in Ireland and, specifically in regard to the furniture industry, there is a difficulty about UK competition. These are real things. It is unhelpful to exaggerate the scale of redundancies, which is as I have indicated, and to exaggerate the scale of the difficulties which can only cause uncertainty. My Department and the IDA stand ready to respond to any request for assistance which comes to us.
Those people were very worried last week and——
I cannot allow the Deputy to continue making statements. This is Question Time.
This is very important.
It is still Question Time.
They made approaches to the Minister's colleague, the Minister for Local Government——
Who spoke to the Minister for Industry and Commerce and discussed it, and who was interested in the furniture industry in Navan long before Deputy Crinion arrived on the scene.
I am just showing you——
We cannot enter into an argument. Question No. 32.
I have tried to be considerate with the Deputy but in his question he mentioned a large number of lay-offs in the furniture industry in County Meath. This is simply untrue and unhelpful.
There is still concern——
Deputy Crinion will please resume his seat.
They are concerned down there——
It is a silly question, a damaging question.
It is not a silly question.
I have been addressing Deputy Crinion for some time past and he has been ignoring the Chair.