asked the Minister for Industry and Energy if he will carry out an investigation into the operations and manner of the closure of a company (details supplied) in Skerries, County Dublin.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Skerries (Dublin) Company Closure.
14.
Though I deplore the manner in which this company have suspended, if not terminated their operations, I do not consider that the institution of an investigation as urged by the Deputy would, in the circumstances, serve any useful purpose. The Industrial Development Authority are continuing their efforts to ensure that, at least, an orderly winding up of the affairs of the company is, even now, brought about. In this regard, particular account has to be taken of the obligations which the company have towards their workers.
By deploring the manner of the closure the Minister of State's reply recognises that something is astray in this situation. Is he aware that this operator let his work force go on holidays, on the night they were going they worked overtime to bring in money for the company, and when they came back from their holiday the company had closed up and this man has not returned to Ireland? He is now hiding away in Switzerland. Surely as an example to other such fly-by-nights the Minister will carry out an investigation into this case.
As I said in my reply, I deplore the manner in which the company have suspended their operations and I sympathise fully with what the Deputy said in this matter. The IDA are following this case actively and making efforts to resolve the closure to some extent particularly with regard to the workers' rights in the closure. I myself must express severe disappointment with the owner of this company.
We are bordering on fraud here and I think the Minister of State is prepared to accept that. The IDA have been in contact with this operator and he has made a number of appointments to come back to Ireland and has failed to turn up on each occasion to meet either the IDA or the bank. The Minister has sympathised with the work force. I ask him to do a little more than sympathise. The work force have received no payment from the State through their right since last August when they returned to work only to find that their company was closed up.
That seems to be a question for another Minister.
I appreciate what the Deputy is saying but the question of payment of social welfare is not a matter for my Department. If there is, as the Deputy has suggested, a possibility of fraud on the part of the owner I am sure that the Garda authorities will be contacted and given the necessary information.
Arising from the reply of the Minister of State, I ask him what action has been taken by the IDA to recover the grant money paid in this case? To talk about the operations being suspended is nonsense. The guy has flown and another company is moving into the empty factory at this stage, transferring from Balbriggan to Skerries with no net benefit to the area generally.
It is proper to say that all the grants applied for by the company were not, in fact, paid.
How much was paid?
Deputies can be sure that grants paid and due to be repaid to the IDA will be sought by the IDA through every legal means possible.
Ceist 15.
One final supplementary. It is a small plant but a very important principle that a foreign company can close and the promoter take off for far away, outside the jurisdiction. I put this question down to the Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism but it has been transferred to the Minister for Industry and Energy. I ask the Minister of State that for the interest of the State in general, this operator be made an example of under our companies law and that a full and thorough investigation of the operation of the company and the manner of the man's departure from this country be carried out and the matter clarified. It is vital as an example to would-be gangsters such as we have in this situation.
I sympathise with the Deputy, but he will appreciate that I have not responsibility for the Companies Acts.
That is why I put the question down to the Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism but it was shoved on to the Minister present.