Deputy Gorry has a private notice question to the Minister for Industry and Commerce.
Private Notice Question. - Messrs. Salts Limited, Tullamore.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that operatives in Messrs. Salts Limited factory, Tullamore, are being offered employment in Yorkshire with free travel facilities by the firm's welfare officer who is now in Tullamore; if he will state whether he has any information as to the possibility of this factory being closed down and whether he has had any consultations with Messrs. Salts Limited regarding the future of the industry; and what steps he proposes to take to secure that continued employment will be made available in Tullamore for the operatives who have been employed there.
Since the Deputy phoned the Department of Industry and Commerce to-day at approximately 1 o'clock an officer of the Department has been in telephonic communication with the firm, and I understand that some operatives have been let go in view of the change-over from double shift to single shift. The Department is in communication with the company, and when I have further information I will inform the Deputy.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that a similar position exists in Cork?
Cork does not come into this question. Surely it is not supplementary to Tullamore?
It is a similar industry.
It is not supplementary to Tullamore.