asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state in relation to each of the four named industries which the Taoiseach recently announced in New York (a) when the industry concerned was first in touch with the IDA, (b) when the industry concerned decided to establish in Ireland, (c) when the industry will be at full production and (d) when the buildings in which the industry will operate were constructed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Establishment of Industry.
4.
The four new projects announced last week in New York were Thermo King for Galway, Analog Devices Inc. for Limerick, A. O. Smith for Bray and Blue Bell Inc., which will set up a project in Ballyhaunis and also in Galway.
While the Industrial Development Authority through US officers had been in touch with these companies for some time the companies only came forward with specific proposals late last year and early this year.
The Thermo King project is scheduled to reach full production by 1985; the A. O. Smith project by 1981; and the Blue Bell project by 1979. A time schedule for full production has not yet been reached with Analog Devices Inc. but full production for phase 1 of the project is expected to be reached by the end of 1978; full production for the complete project should be reached by 1983.
All of the projects will initially, at any rate, move into existing factory premises and production is expected to commence this year.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that one of the firms he mentioned, Thermo King, which proposes to establish in Galway, sent out a circular to Irish subcontractors at the beginning of October, 1975, announcing that it was establishing in Ireland and asking them to quote for certain subcontracting work which they wished to have done? Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that this is five-and-a-half months before the announcement that was made in New York by the Taoiseach?
I am not aware of the circular referred to by the Deputy, but I can tell him that detailed proposals were not made by the firm to the IDA until 26th January, 1976. These were approved by the IDA board on 19th February and grants were approved by the Government on 12th March, 1976.
I have the circular here—and I am prepared to give it to the Parliamentary Secretary—which shows it was sent out at the beginning of October, 1975, and which announces that they were establishing a manufacturing facility in Ireland and asking for quotations.
We are having a statement from the Deputy rather than a supplementary question.
It was made perfectly clear—and this was reflected in the reports both of The Irish Press and the Cork Examiner—that negotiations had been taking place in a general way with the IDA with all these firms for a period of about 18 months. But what is important is, first of all, the Government agreement to the precise package of grants which, as I say, in this case did not take place until 12th March, 1976. What is even more important is the agreement of the firm in question that their commitment should be announced, and in all of these cases that agreement was not forthcoming until the week prior to the announcements being made.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware from the list he read out and, indeed, from the announcements that were made by this and other firms that the great bulk of these jobs which were announced with such a fanfare will not arise until the mid-1980s, and is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there is a growing need for jobs at present and not in the mid-1980s?
The Deputy is either entirely misrepresenting what I said or he was not listening, because I indicated that in only one of those cases could the mid-1980s be said to be the date and that case was Thermo King and it was the date of full production. In fact, two of the projects will reach full production in 1978 and another in 1980. In the case of Thermo King, production will commence around July, 1976, Analog, August, 1976, A. O. Smith, September, 1976, and Blue Bell, June in the case of the Ballyhaunis project and July/August in the case of the Galway project.
What will be the net creation of new jobs arising out of this, bearing in mind that each of these firms is going into a factory which recently closed down with a considerable loss of employment? Will there be any net jobs created when the loss of the corresponding jobs is taken into account?
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the factory premises being taken over by Thermo King is one of the famous factories, Potez, Galway, which closed during the Fianna Fáil regime?
That is not a question. I am passing on to another question.
What the Deputy said is correct.
How many jobs are being created?
The Deputy has already asked that question.
It has not been answered. The Parliamentary Secretary ignored it.
I respect the Ceann Comhairle's ruling.
(Interruptions.)