asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether it is proposed to sell Ballinahinch Hotel, Connemara; and, if so, whether he can say the disposal of the property will be conditioned by safeguards for the employment of the indoor and outdoor staffs employed there.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ballinahinch Hotel.
The Ballinahinch Hotel will be offered for sale as a going concern at an appropriate opportunity and once the property has been sold it will be a matter for the purchaser to decide the staff to be employed. It would not be practicable to provide the safeguards to which the Deputy refers.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, is it the intention of his Department to seek a purchaser who will run this as a going concern or is it the intention to sell it to the highest bidder irrespective of the purpose for which it may be used?
It is public property and I conceive it to be my duty to obtain the highest possible price I can for the property. I hope that it will be used after purchase for a purpose which will enable the present employees, or the greatest number of them, to be retained in employment there. But I cannot make that a condition of the sale.
Would the Minister not consider that it might be advisable in the public interest to take a smaller price which would enable the property to be used to national advantage rather than to take the highest price and have the property deteriorate or fall into decay?
I wonder what conditions the Deputy would lay down if it was his own property he was disposing of?
It is not the same thing at all.
It is not analogous.
Why would anybody pay a high price merely to let the property fall into decay?