asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will comment on the statement circulated in his name prior to the General Election, relating to the constitution of Siúicre Éireann CPT: if he intends acting in accordance with the contents of the statement; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Siúicre Éireann CPT.
9.
I am aware of a statement — there were a number of statements involved — in the course of which I indicated that an incoming Fianna Fáil Government would ensure that at least one other director from the Thurles area would be appointed to the board. This commitment was implemented since 16 April 1987 by me as Minister for Agriculture and Food when I appointed two new directors, one of whom is from the Thurles area and who, incidently has a Ph.D. in the quality of beet which eminently equips him for the position. The House should be aware that I will be meeting the board of the Company shortly to discuss all aspects of the company's operations.
For the Minister's information, this is the document he issued on 9 February——
That is not in order Deputy.
It can be exhibit A.
(Interruptions.)
It is not in order to display documents of any kind at Question Time.
Is it not a fact that this was a shameless vote-catching exercise, that the Minister abused the members of the board in what he said in that document and insinuated that they were not doing their job properly?
I specifically said in relation to the constitution of the board, as an Opposition spokesman, that——(Interruptions.)
A vote for O'Kennedy in Thurles is a vote for work.
I did not say that.
I have it here.
(Interruptions.)
It has turned out to be that. I specifically said that I would change the composition of the board, or that Fianna Fáil in Government would change the composition of the board to include at least one director in addition to the worker directors in the Thurles area. That is what I said on behalf of Fianna Fáil.
(Interruptions.)
Although I did not anticipate it then, I am pleased that it fell to me as Minister for Agriculture and Food to implement that commitment, to appoint a person from the Thurles area to the board, particularly a person who has such excellent qualifications, in addition to the chief executive of Avonmore.
(Interruptions.)
I have not finished. Never before has a person with such preeminent qualifications been appointed to the board of Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann. Deputy Lowry can confirm that this has been greatly welcomed in Thurles. I am equally sure that in view of the employment in Thurles and the surrounding regions everyone in the Thurles area and generally are very happy that I have introduced such an element of professionalism and competence in addition to the others on the board.
How many people have lost their jobs since you took office?
Nobody has lost their job.
Is the Minister aware that the people in South Tipperary, for example, in Glenlough and Rossmore are extremely happy with his decisions, too?
I am so aware.
As one who has suffered most from the advent of this document and the high expectations it aroused at the time I would like to ask the Minister if he is aware that contrary to his promise to retain a 2,500 tonne diffuser in Thurles Sugar Factory that the diffuser in question has, since he has taken office, been transferred to Mallow and is presently being installed. I would like the Minister to comment on the fact that he failed to deliver on the promise to retain sugar packaging facilities at Thurles. The equipment is presently on its way to Mallow from Thurles and we have lost that facility also.
The Minister has lost jobs instead of gaining them.
Contrary to the Minister's commitment to increase job opportunities at Thurles Sugar Factory the opposite has happened in that between May and July of this year 27 staff will have been notified that they will be disemployed. That is contrary to what was contained in the document.
I would like to remind Deputy Lowry that the question relates only to the constitution of the board of Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann. Deputy Lowry does not seem to have been in contact with what is happening in the sugar plant in Thurles. The issue he referred to has been resolved by agreement by the unions, who it has to be said were excellently represented, and the board. The board resolved the issue he is now complaining about to the satisfaction of the unions.
You promised the opposite.
The Minister promised to increase employment.
If Deputy Lowry was a little bit more in contact with what is happening in his constituency — and God knows he is there often enough——
(Interruptions.)
I assure Deputies that there will be more employment in Thuries.
The total so far is minus 27 and plus one.
I must now move to questions nominated for priority.