asked the Minister for Labour the issues discussed when he met members of the Executive Council of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions on 6 February 1989 regarding the future of the Irish Sugar Company plant at Thurles, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Thurles (County Tipperary) plant.
12.
The ICTU delegation informed both the Minister for Agriculture and Food and myself of their views on the future of Siúicre Éireann.
The views of the ICTU were noted and it was indicated that it was not Government policy to privatise Siúicre Éireann.
Is the Minister happy with the comment recently made either by the chairman or the chief executive of Irish Sugar that within a couple of years the Sugar Company will be in excellent order for privatisation? The comment does not appear to be in line with what the Minister and the Minister for Agriculture and Food have said. I take it that a joint venture is okay but privatisation is out.
I do not want to get into the argument which has gone on for several weeks regarding this issue. I think the House has had enough of it. It is the Congress of Trade Unions' position which I support on this and other semi-State bodies that once the core company remains in place there is nothing wrong with joint ventures. This is precisely what I and the Minister for Agriculture and Food said to the ICTU. It is also ICTU policy not just in relation to Siúicre Éireann but in relation to a number of other State companies.
Did the Minister discuss at the meeting the question of alternative jobs for Thurles, which is the major factor in people's minds at the moment? Did the Minister have any definite or sound information to give them? Does the Price Waterhouse inquiry into the Sugar Company which is to be completed at the end of this month include Thurles or is it to deal with the Irish Sugar Company without Thurles?
That is not a question which was part of that discussion. In relation to jobs, the ICTU representatives stressed the importance of the staff at Thurles having an opportunity to be recruited to the new companies if they should lose their jobs. The Minister for Agriculture and Food noted that point. He had no definite information at that stage. The meeting was six weeks ago.
There is nothing definite coming onstream. Is that the position?
I want to deal with another question in the name of the same Deputy.
I can only answer for what happened on 6 February. I am not up to date with what has happened since.