asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if his attention has been drawn to the proposed sale of Sunbeam Wolsey in Cork and to the statement by the former chairman of the group that promises made at the time of its take-over in 1986 have not been kept; and if he will ensure that any further change of ownership protects the jobs of those employed there.
Written Answers. - Sunbeam Wolsey (Cork).
26.
I am aware of certain newspaper reports concerning the proposed sale of Sunbeam Wolsey and the statement attributed to the former chairman of the group that promises made, at the time of its take-over in 1986, have not been kept. I have very recently received notification under the Mergers, Takeovers and Monopolies (Control) Act, 1978 of the proposed acquisition of the John Crowther Group PLC by the Coloroll Group PLC. However, in the absence of precise information concerning the implications of this acquisition for the Sunbeam Wolsey Group, which I am requesting, it would be inappropriate for me to comment. Notwithstanding, I would point out that all merger or take-over proposals requiring to be notified to me are thoroughly examined in strict accordance with the scheduled criteria to the Act, including, inter alia, the protection of employment aspects of such proposals.