andMr. Kenny asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce what steps the Government have taken to adapt Irish industry to Common Market conditions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC: Adaptation of Irish Industry.
11.
I would refer the Deputies to the fact that the Committee on Industrial Organisation has been set up for the purpose of making a critical appraisal of the measures that may require to be taken to adapt Irish industry to conditions of more intensive competition in home and export markets, to undertake an examination of the difficulties which may be created for particular industries and to formulate positive measures of adjustment and adaptation.
The Committee's Interim Report on State Aid to be granted to Industry to adapt itself to meet Common Market conditions was published on 10th April, 1962 and, as intimated by the Minister for Finance in the course of his Budget Speech, the Government have accepted the recommendations in the Report. In addition, as I announced on 7th July, 1962, following a recommendation of the Committee, I have increased, from one-third to one-half of the cost, the maximum amount of technical assistance grants for the improvement of productive efficiency in industry.
The Committee's Survey Report on the Cotton, Linen and Rayon Industry was published on the 8th June, 1962, and a number of Survey Reports on other industries have now reached an advanced stage.
I may add that I have lost no opportunity in public speeches or elsewhere of emphasising to manufacturers the urgent need for assessing their prospects in free trade conditions and for taking steps to improve their competitiveness. I am awere that a number of manufacturers have already taken such steps and they were encouraged in so doing by the official announcement made last December that any financial or fiscal inducements that might be introduced to encourage adaptation measures would have retrospective effect to 14th December last.
Is the Minister aware that the Budget is now three months gone? The Minister for Finance then announced that the Industrial Development Company was going to make funds available but no positive pronouncement has yet been made in relation to the terms of these loans. Individual industrialists are unable to get from the company any details in relation to the scheme.
That will not happen any more. There may have been some delay in interpretation but that has been cleared up.
Could the Minister tell me when? I was personally interested in an application and I could not get any information.
In the past week only. The Industrial Development Company came to me only last week in connection with the difficulties they had in relation to the matter. These have now been cleared up and there is every hope that applications will be processed quickly.
Does the Minister suggest that the delay was all with the company? I find it hard to credit that.
The announcement was conveyed to them in the Budget Statement.
I think that Finance had some finger in the pie.