asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will arrange a loan and a grant-in-aid for a company (name supplied) in County Offaly which is employing over 200 people and is threatened with closure.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Offaly Company.
19.
I am aware of the difficulties of the company in question. An application for financial assistance by the company to Fóir Teoranta, the special State agency set up to deal with cases of this kind, was turned down because the criteria laid down in the Fóir Teoranta Act, 1972 were deemed not to have been met. Efforts are continuing to find a solution to the problems of the company.
Is the Minister aware that this company is the main employer in south Offaly? The company employs about 200 people and in view of the fact that the project is viable could the Minister arrange with the State agencies that the capital be given to the company with the State taking a share in the company? I do not know but I believe that the State can dictate the terms on which they give capital to a company. In other words, they can appoint personnel on to the board of management. I would like to know if the Minister would consider it from that angle?
The Deputy is making a speech.
Would the Minister say if anything new has arisen from the discussions the Minister had with the trade union representatives and that the Minister for Finance had with regard to the workers? Would the Minister not consider that the sum applied for to Fóir Teoranta is a relatively small sum having regard to the size of the industry? Would the Minister not have a further look at this matter so as to be in a position to make representations to Fóir Teoranta and would Fóir Teoranta be in a position to put in a managing director or somebody to take over the firm or at least to have some say in the management of this very important industry in this very important area of Laois/Offaly?
A very long question. Question Time is up.
Would you let me in now?
Yes.
As far as I know the factory is viable. It may be a question of bad management or mismanagement. I agree with the Deputies who have asked the Minister to appoint a manager there. It is not a question of the factory not being viable. I believe it is viable if properly managed.
I do not want to get into an argument with either of the Deputies who has used the word "viable". By any of the normal financial criteria of viability it is not viable at this moment. On the other hand, I would not have given the time and directed my staff to investigate all the possibilities if I did not believe that it had the possibility of survival and of being rescued. I do not think the Dáil is the best place to plan what is most appropriate to effect a rescue in this particular case, which is quite a sensitive one, as all such cases of difficulty are sensitive, but I want to assure the Deputies that I have met the trade unions and have been very impressed by the attitude which they showed and that Fóir Teoranta and the IDA and my own Department are in continuous contact with this and I was again today in the attempt to resolve the problem and to guarantee the jobs of people. I understand in a town like Banagher the one industry is the core of the whole employment. So I do appreciate the difficulty but I cannot give a firm guarantee of a solution to the problem at this moment.
Just a final supplementary.
It is past the time.
I ask you to allow me to ask a short one in regard to this State agency. Can they dictate the conditions on which the money will be given?
The Deputy has already asked that question.
Can they appoint a director to the board to look after the affairs?
State agencies function very properly within a framework of law, law decided in this Chamber, and the Deputy can readily acquaint himself with the powers of State agencies, which are real but which are not infinite.
Has the Minister had any word about the important meeting yesterday?
As I said earlier, I got back from Luxembourg late last night and I have heard nothing about it.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.
I should like to raise the subject matter of Question No. 4 on the Adjournment.
I should like to raise the subject matter of Question Nos. 17 and 18 on the Adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputies in the matter.