asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether he is aware that electrical wiremen in Dublin have been disemployed recently, not through lack of work, but through the inability of wiring contractors to get certain classes of wire necessary for carrying out the work, and if he will state why it is impossible to secure this wire now, and what he proposes to do in the matter, so that the work may progress and the wiremen be re-employed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment of Electrical Wiremen.
I am not aware that the position is as stated in the first part of the question, nor am I aware that there is any difficulty in obtaining any class of wire either from Saorstát or non-Saorstát sources.
There is, in fact, unemployment in the City of Dublin in the wiring industry by reason of the fact that contractors cannot get this wire. Do I understand from the Minister that he has not had any representations from the merchants in the city who sell this wire to the effect that the factory in New Ross is not able to provide this wire because of the difficulties put in the way of the factory in importing the wire which they import as raw material for covering?
I have had no such representation.
Well, will the Minister make inquiries of one or two of the bigger firms with a view to confirming that, because there is a considerable amount of complaint and there is a considerable amount of feeling that there is no use in approaching the Minister's Department in connection with that matter? That complaint is definitely made and I suggest that it would be well for the Minister to probe the matter and say whether the dealers in this wire have the complaint given in the City of Dublin as a reason for persons being put off work.
Many firms approach the Department regularly for licences to import wire that is not procurable in this country, and these licences are being issued. I think that no firm would think it necessary to approach the Department in the circumstances described by the Deputy. No such approach has been made.