asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state how many factories, mills or other industrial concerns in the Irish Free State ceased business in each of the years 1922 to 1927, and the nature of the production in which each of these concerns had been engaged.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - INDUSTRIES CLOSED DOWN.
I can have a return prepared and furnished to the Deputy of the number of concerns of some size known to my Department to have ceased business in the years mentioned, if the Deputy considers that a return merely stating numbers and the nature of the production would serve any useful purpose without information as to why, in each case, business was terminated. I could not undertake to assign officially reasons for the closing of any private business.
I would like to have the information available.
I will have it prepared.
I presume the Parliamentary Secretary will include distilleries in that return?
Yes, any concern of any size.