asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy when the findings of the survey on the furniture industry by the IDA will be published; and if he will recommend that this sector be grant-aided.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Furniture Industry Survey.
11.
The IDA have recently completed an internal study of the furniture industry for the purpose of reviewing grant policy in that sector. As the report contains confidential information relating to the affairs of companies in the industry it is not proposed to publish it. Applications for grant assistance will be considered by the IDA in the light of grant criteria to be adopted following consideration of the survey report.
Would the Minister not consider that since apparently this report will have serious and considerable implications in regard to the scale of aid available to the furniture industry, the industry should be given the opportunity of commenting on the contents of the report? Would the Minister not consider at least publishing the report minus the confidential information in relation to named firms?
The confidential information is such an integral part of the overall report that it would be impossible to publish the report without it.
Should there be any change in the grant regulations that would be detrimental to any aspect of the furniture industry, would the Minister give an assurance to the House that no such change would be made without prior consultation with representatives of the industry?
Any change made will be for the benefit and the good of the industry and not to its detriment.
I am thinking of any change that may be detrimental to any aspect of the industry but not to the industry generally.
The Deputy is putting a hypothetical case. I could not go into details of any specific case of application for grants but I can assure the Deputy that if he becomes aware of any particular case I will have it examined with the IDA on his bringing it to my notice.
The Minister will appreciate that I have not had the privilege of seeing the report and that, therefore, I have no way of knowing whether any firm in my constituency will be affected by any change that is made. Would the Minister not agree at least to make the report available to Members of the House?
As I said, the report contains much information that is confidential, information relating to the affairs of certain firms. Consequently, it would not be appropriate to make that information available, not even to Members of the House.