asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware of the proposed closure of Messrs. Robert Wilson meat processing plant at Cahir, County Tipperary, which would result in the loss of some 116 jobs and which is due primarily to a shortage of cattle; if he will take immediate steps to carry out a rescue operation and ensure adequate supplies of the essential raw materials required; and further if he would take effective steps to stem the flow of cattle from the country and so avoid irreparable damage being caused to the meat processing industry.
Private Notice Questions. - Cahir (Tipperary) Factory.
I am aware of the difficulties being encountered by this firm. They have already approached the Department of Trade, Commerce and Tourism with whom talks have been held. Both the Department of Agriculture and the IDA have participated in those talks but since they have not yet got very far it would be premature to expect any conclusion from them. So far as the remainder of the problem to which the Deputy refers is concerned, I am working on a proposal which I intend putting before the Commission of the EEC to secure an increase in the export refunds on boneless beef in order to allow a further improvement of the situation in the beef processing industry generally. As the Deputy points out, that is a problem which has a direct bearing on the activities of the firm in question since they are the largest meat and bone-meal plant in operation in the country. In addition I shall be considering what further steps may be open to us in order to change the balance in our exports as between live cattle and processed meat. I intend in the very near future to talk to a major export customer of live cattle with a view to ascertaining if we can change the balance between live cattle and meat. Again, that would be a further step in the operation to ensure that more of our cattle are processed at home, an aspiration shared by all of us. This would help to avoid the kind of situation that has arisen in the case about which the Deputy is concerned.
I appreciate fully the Minister's genuine concern to avert the calamity I have outlined for the people of Cahir and district but can the Minister give some indication that those agencies who are now taking an interest in the matter will be successful and that closure can be averted?
I regret that I cannot say now what the results of the discussions will be but my Department, and I am sure also the Department of Trade, Commerce and Tourism and the IDA, would be concerned to ensure that the maximum possible assistance is given to this firm.
May I take it that contacts have been made and are continuing at Cahir to remedy the situation?
Yes, discussions are continuing between the agencies and Department I have mentioned and the firm in question.