asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will confirm that he intends to discontinue the operations of the Irish Wool Council; and if he will make a statement on the future of its staff at Walkinstown, Dublin 12.
4.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Wool Council.
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asked the Minister for Agriculture if he has any plans for the reorganisation of the wool industry; and the role he sees for the Irish Wool Council in the future.
I propose to take Questions Nos, 3 and 4 together.
As part of the measures being taken to reduce Exchequer expenditure it was decided that An Chomhairle Olla should be abolished and that the provisions of the Wool Marketing Act should be implemented directly by my Department.
Three of the staff who were on secondment to the council have returned to my Department. The future of the remaining member of the staff, who was employed directly by the council, is under consideration.
The abolition of An Chomhairle is in no way a reflection on the performance of members of the council, who have provided a valuable service to the wool industry over the years.
(Limerick West): Surely it is not true for the Minister to say that the running of the wool industry would be carried out more effectively by officials in his Department rather than the Wool Council? The council have done fine work in the past——
Will the Deputy please put a question?
(Limerick West): If the Chair will bear with me I will get around to asking my question. Will the Minister reconsider this decision which, in the opinion of people involved in the wool industry, is detrimental to the wool industry?
The simple answer is no. I have not had one complaint from the wool industry about the abolition of the council. It is considered that the function of the council has long been implemented and that there is no necessity for the council to continue. I would point out that it was officials from by Department who were implementing the functions of the council and they will continue to do so from within my Department.
The Minister took Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together. He has replied to Question No. 3 to the effect that the Wool Council are totally irrelevant. I do not object to that statement, but he has not replied to Question No. 4 in which I asked if he had any plans for the reorganisation of the wool industry and the role he sees for the Irish Wool Council in the future.
The question was asked about the role of the Wool Council. As I stated in my reply, the council have been abolished. The functions of the council are being carried out from within my Department.
Is the Minister aware of the importance of the natural resource of the wool industry and the job potential there? The purpose in my asking the question was to find out if the Minister has any plans for reorganisation of the industry to ensure that all our raw wool is not exported so that the textile industry has to import processed wool. Has the Minister any plans for altering this crazy situation where we export all our raw wool and have to import processed wool for the carpet industry and the textile industry? That was my purpose in putting down the question but the Minister has not answered it.
I have no intention of reorganising the wool industry as referred to by Deputy Mac Giolla. I have had no request to do so. I do not believe there is any need to do so because it is being done perfectly well by the officials to whom I have referred already in my reply.
(Limerick West): Will the Minister give the average approximate saving in the present approach as against the previous approach?
The savings in the current year are £60,000.
This is very important in view of the Minister's reply. Does the Minister see his job as simply responding to requests? Does he not see his responsibility as giving leadership to the agricultural and woollen industries? Does he not see his job as having the responsibility of ensuring that every effort is made to give employment, particularly using our own natural resources? I ask the Minister to give a more satisfactory reply to this House on what he intends to do as Minister for Agriculture in regard to this important natural resource which is being exported in the raw state.
I have replied to that question in a number of ways. I said I have had no request from the people involved in the wool industry for a restructuring or a reorganisation of that industry. I have also pointed out that the people administering the Wool Council were from my Department. They were paid by my Department and they are continuing to do the job. I do not see that there is any change in the situation.
As a result of the abolition of the Wool Council, will the Minister state if there have been any lay-offs? He spoke a few minutes ago about the secondment of staff to the Wool Council and said they have now been taken back to the Department of Agriculture. I should like to know in what areas they have been deployed.
In exactly the same area as they were used in the Wool Council.
Have there been any lay-offs?
One person was not an employee of my Department, namely, a wool assessor. His position is being negotiated at present.