Vol. 172 No. 6
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he has granted or proposes to grant a new manufacturer's licence to a group of non-nationals to manufacture flowerpots in this country; and, if so, if he will state the circumstances under which the licence has been or will be granted.
4.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether any grant from State funds or from a State-sponsored body has been made to a group which proposes to manufacture flower-pots in this country; and, if so, whether he will state the amount of the grant and the source from which it was made.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together.
A new manufacture licence has not been granted, nor is it proposed to grant such licence, for the purpose mentioned by the Deputy. As regards the reference to a grant, the Deputy will appreciate that, depending on the location of the proposed industry, the making of grants for industrial development is the function of An Foras Tionscal under the Undeveloped Areas Acts, 1952 and 1957 or of the Industrial Development Authority under the Industrial Grants Act, 1956, and that I have no function in the matter. The legislation provides for the submission by An Foras Tionscal and by the Industrial Development Authority of an annual report to be laid on the Table of each House of the Oireachtas. It is not the practice to supply information of the kind suggested by the Deputy in advance of their report.
