asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism the percentage of industrial jobs in firms or industries which are foreign-owned.
354.
Written Answers. - Foreign-Owned Industry.
353.
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism if he will give an estimate of the percentage of Irish industry, excluding agriculture, which is foreign-owned.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 351, 353 and 354 together.
The information which is maintained on the ownership of industry is not in the form requested in these questions. Because of the difficult problems of definition which arise it has not been possible in the time available to reprocess the data into the headings which the Deputy appears to have in mind.
352.
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism whether he has at any time since assuming office indicated to the IDA his, or the Government's view as to what their policy in relation fo foreign or multi-national investment should be; and the nature of any such view or instruction in relation to IDA policy.
My Department have frequent liaison with the Industrial Development Authority, and my views on all aspects of industrial development policy are conveyed to and implemented by them. Moreover, in formulating their industrial plans the authority take full account of the Government's overall economic targets and policies.
I would point out that the 1978-82 IDA Industrial Plan has set a very high target to provide 75,000 new grant-aided manufacturing jobs in the period. A central target of this plan is that over 50 per cent of these jobs should come from within Ireland. This reflects my desire that the employment creation potential of Irish industry should be developed to the maximum, while at the same time recognising that in the medium term at least overseas-sponsored investment will continue to make a very important contribution to the industrial base.