asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the plans he has to secure the future of Baltimore boatyard, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteann—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cork Boatyard.
4.
I understand that the High Court has appointed a liquidator to deal with the affairs of this company and I have no functions in the matter.
Is the Minister aware of the widespread disquiet at the appointment of a liquidator to this boatyard? Is the Minister concerned that the present Government seem to have a penchant for converting boatyards into graveyards? Will the Minister ask BIM to draw up a comprehensive scheme to secure the jobs of the people in this industry which is 100 years old? Will the Minister do everything in his power to secure those jobs?
That company is in the hands of the liquidator at the moment and that creates problems for me. However, boat-building yards have never been a matter for the Minister for Fisheries. These are run by the private sector and the only involvement of the Minister for Fisheries with the boat-building industry is that he provides the finance in the form of grants and loans to BIM, who in turn provide them to applicants for the provision of boats. Such grants and loans are not given for the building of boats. They are given to individuals for the purchase of boats from boatyards where orders have been placed. I am at a distance from the actual boat-building industry so while I would like to see a healthy boat-building industry here, I am afraid that individual companies are the responsibility of their boards of management. In this case the directors of the company sought a liquidator. The High Court granted their request and a liquidator was appointed.
As Minister for Fisheries is the Minister responsible for the overall policy and direction of An Bord Iascaigh Mhara? Would he agree that, in a number of cases in the past couple of years, BIM have spent considerable amounts of the taxpayers' money on office accommodation and various other schemes? Would the Minister agree that he has the responsibility for providing taxpayers' money to BIM and that some semi-State bodies are quick enough to come to the Minister seeking funds when they are in trouble? Would the Minister not agree also that he has a responsibility to the taxpayer to ensure that such bodies spend their money in a prudent manner? Would the Minister ensure that the jobs at the Baltimore Boatyard are protected? Would the Minister request BIM to introduce a comprehensive scheme to recover the boatyard and secure its jobs?
I cannot give that assurance because BIM are not in the business of rescuing boatyards. They just grant money, in the form of grants and loans, to applicants who seek to have their boats built or purchased. They are not in the business of establishing, maintaining or rescuing boatyards. So I cannot give that assurance.
In view of the fact that the acquisition of a boatyard by BIM would not be creating a precedent, at the same time would the Minister admit that they did so on several previous occasions when such boatyards were under the supervision of BIM? In view of the tremendous amount of interest BIM have in the development of our fishing industry and the extensive FEOGA grants applicable to the building of fishing trawlers would the Minister not agree — when the legal case is over — to ask BIM to explore the possibility of taking over this boatyard which has up-to-date machinery and facilities for boatbuilding ——
The Deputy is making a long statement.
—— giving vital employment in that area? Would the Minister consider making recommendations to An Bord Iascaigh Mhara to examine the possibility of taking over this boatyard, putting it back on the rails once the legal formalities are over?
I would point out that the Deputy is correct in saying that the board could take such a decision. The board of BIM are the people responsible for such decisions.
Had they the money.
I say that they would not be creating a precedent, as the Deputy has maintained. They have had two boatyards in the past and have disposed of both. This is really a matter for the private sector — if there is money in the business of the building and repairing of boats, they will take it up. Deputy Walsh mentioned my responsibility for ensuring the expenditure of public funds in a manner that would be in keeping with Ministerial responsibility. That is why I would not propose to the board of BIM to purchase the Baltimore boatyard, or any other boatyard.
Has the Minister information on his file confirming that BIM had title to this property to dispose of it in the first instance?
I am afraid I have not that information in my brief. However, I shall contact the Deputy and make whatever information I have available to him.
(Interruptions.)
I have called Question No. 5.
Would the Minister accept that the loss of a boatyard in the south of Ireland would be a tremendous loss to the fishing industry?
Deputy Gallagher, please.
Would the Minister try to ensure that something is done to guarantee this service being available to the fishermen in the south?
I have called Question No. 5.