asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state if any ships have been recently purchased by the Government; if it is proposed to build ships in Dublin or any other part of Éire at an early date; and if he is aware of the spread of unemployment in the ship-building and ship-repairing industry in Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ship-Building Industry.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The Deputy appears to be under a misapprehension. The operation of merchant shipping services is undertaken by shipping companies and not by the Government. I am not in a position to say to what extent shipping companies propose to avail of Irish dockyard facilities for ship-building in the immediate future. The information available to me does not reveal any increase of unemployment in the ship-building industry during the present year.
Will the Minister, as representing the Government, do anything to encourage ship-building in Dublin during the slack period which will soon commence? What is the Government's policy with regard to ship-building in Dublin?
It is in consequence of the Government's policy that shipyards which were closed down when we came into office are now open and flourishing.
That is not the point. I am asking what is the Government's policy with regard to ship-building in Ireland in future?
The same in the future as it was in the past.
That is not much encouragement.
I think it is a great deal. We started from nothing.
We should have something better from an Irish Government.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether any plans have been prepared or are in preparation for the development of the ship-building industry in Dublin.
I understand that Liffey Dockyard Limited has for some time been considering the question of developing the ship-building industry in Dublin.