An deireadh seachtaine seo caite nuair a fógraíodh go bhfuil an mhonarcha seo le druid in Ard an Rátha agus go mbeidh beagnach 20 post le cailleadh, chuir sé isteach go mór ar phobal Ard an Rátha agus ar phobal na Gaeltachta sa cheantair sin. Tá an mhonarcha seo ar bun le 14 bliain; bunaíodh í i 1979 agus ó shin chuir sí fostaíocht ar fáil sa cheantar seo — ceantar Ard an Rátha, áit nach bhfuil mórán fostaíochta eile ann. Leis an fhírinne a rá, seo an t-aon tionscal atá ag Údarás na Gaeltachta sa cheantar Gaeltachta timpeall Ard an Rátha. Tá sé íontach tábhachtach go ndéanfaí gach dicheall an tionscal a choinneáil oscailte agus na daoine atá fostaithe inti a choinneáil ag obair.
Tá clú agus cáil ar Ard an Rátha agus an ceantar sin le blianta fada. Tá traidisiún fada ansin go mbíonn na daoine ag plé le éadaigh olla, sníomh agus fíodóireacht. Téann an traidisiún sin siar go dtí an céad seo caite. I lár na n-ochtóidí bhí thar 80 ag obair sa tionscal sin. Tá beagnach 20 ag obair ann anois agus má imíonn sé beidh sé in a bhuille mór. Sílim gurb é an trioblóid ansin ná cúrsaí airgeadais agus rátaí úis. Chuir polasaithe airgid an Rial-tais le cúpla mí anuas isteach go mór ar an tionscal seo. Bhí siad ag díol an-chuid dá gcuid táirgí isteach sa cheantar sterling, mar shampla an Bhreatain, agus san Ghearmáin chomh maith. De thairbhe na rátaí malartan le cúpla mí anuas chuaigh luach an tairgidh suas 20 faoin gcéad agus sin i ndiaidh iad a chur amach beagnach as gnó ar fad.
Is leis an Údarás féin an mhonarcha ansin. Níl mórán eile ag an Údarás i gceantar Ard an Ratha agus mholfainn don Aire teangbháil leis an Údarás agus a iarraidh orthu gach dícheall a dhéanamh an tionscal a choinneáil ag obair. B'fhéidir go bhfeádfadh an tÚdarás féin rannpháirtíocht a ghlacadh sa chomhlacht nó b'fhéidir tionscal éigin eile a mhealladh isteach a chuirfeadh fostaíocht ar fáil sa cheantar seo.
The shock announcement by Garn Teoranta that the remainder of its workforce would be made redundant within the next few weeks can be attributed directly to the Government's industrial and financial policies. Garn Teoranta has provided employment in the Ardara area since 1979 and is widely known for the quality of its product and its excellent industrial relations with its workers. At its peak, this company provided employment for over 40 people in the Ardara area. However, the recent budgetary measures, including the recent 5 per cent increase in VAT on clothing, and the handling of the currency crisis are the straws which have broken the camel's back in this instance.
Since September the price of the product produced by Garn Teoranta, because of currency fluctuations and the exchange rate of the Irish punt, has increased by 20 per cent and which has resulted in the company losing most of its UK market. I have been in touch with Údarás na Gaeltachta and I hope that the Minister — I am delighted he is present in the House this evening to respond to this matter — will ensure that Údarás na Gaeltachta has the backing of the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht and the Government so that these jobs can be retained. As I have said, this is the only industry Údarás na Gaeltacht has in the Ardara area, an area of high unemployment. I hope every effort will be made to get Údarás na Gaeltachta to take equity in this company or to get an industrialist to take it over so that the 17 or 18 jobs are protected. This company has a long tradition and it would be a pity if the workers, all of whom are skilled in the tradition of weaving and tweed making, were dispersed.