asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the steps the Government intend to take to encourage the re-establishment of a paper mills industry in Ireland; if the Government intend to take steps to facilitate the re-opening of Clondalkin Paper Mills, Dublin 22; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Paper Mills Industry.
8.
The industrial development agencies have day to day responsibility for the promotion of industrial projects. The IDA have informed me that they are in contact with a number of potential investors with a view to establishing a new pulpwood using industry here.
The IDA has also provided every possible assistance to the Receiver of Leinster Paper Mills of Clondalkin in his efforts to find a buyer who would be prepared to reopen the plant but those efforts have not borne fruit.
May I ask the Minister in regard to the plans for the opening of a new pulpwood industry if there is any integrated plan for the timber industry to engage in the manufacture of pulpwood originally and then to move on to paper making? Would the Minister agree that it is an absolute disgrace that there is no paper-making facility in this country given the enormous amount of paper we and, in particular, this Government use, all of which must be imported? It should be part of the development of a forestry plan to continue the process of pulpwood and paper-making facilities.
As the Deputy is probably aware, the IDA are in discussion with a number of potential investors on the question of the establishment of a pulpwood plant. A paper-mill would be downstream from that. I do not know what the precise nature of the pulpwood plant will be because, of course, agreement has not yet been come to between the IDA and any of the three companies they are talking to at present. What the Deputy has said should be considered in the light of whatever arrangements are come to in that respect.
Can the Minister give us any indication of what will occur in regard to the pulpwood process if it does not go to a paper-making facility? Is there a market for it already and where will it be exported to?
As the Deputy may be aware, there are already two plants in this country using timber of this kind, one at Scarriff in County Clare and one at Clonmel. With regard to the product to be produced by a third proposed plant, I do not yet know because it has not yet been decided who the promoters of the third plant will be. As I said there are three companies, two Swedish and one American, talking actively about it to the IDA at present and presumably the product will be decided as a result of the successful outcome of those discussions.
Question No. 9, please.
May I——
Sorry, Deputy I have called Question No. 9.
There was another question arising out of that which I would like to ask.
(Interruptions.)
It is not fair to Deputies who have put down questions that they are not given enough time to ask supplementaries——
If Deputy Mac Giolla is not satisfied with the Minister's reply he has a remedy.
The Deputy can get all the answers he wants.
We have to ask questions arising out of further answers.
It is not the answer Brian Lenihan gave the workers in Clondalkin, Taoiseach.