asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce what arrangements are being made for compensating or resettling workers engaged in the motor assembly trade should they become redundant on Ireland's entry to the Common Market.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC: Redundant Motor Assembly Workers.
21.
The possibility of finding alternative employment for workers who may become redundant in the motor assembly industry is under active consideration and I feel it would be inappropriate for me to make any statement at this stage on the matters raised by the Deputy, other perhaps than to say that the question of arrangements to deal with redundancy, retraining and resettlement in industry generally is being actively investigated by the Committee on Industrial Organisation and by the Inter-Departmental Committee on the Retraining and Resettlement of Workers.
22.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will make a general statement on the position of workers engaged in the motor assembly trade arising out of the recent Report of the Committee on Industrial Organisation.
The Report of the Committee on Industrial Organisation makes it clear that for the most part the motor assembly industry as at present constituted cannot continue in free trading conditions. Since the Report was published, however, some assembly firms have stated that they expect to continue in assembly. In addition my Department has been in close touch with the assembly industry with a view to encouraging assemblers to develop proposals for alternative manufacturing projects to replace assembly activity. A number of proposals of a general nature have been examined but it is too soon as yet to state specifically what the results may be. As I stated in reply to an earlier question the Government will continue to use every effort to foster employment-giving projects, including the existing financial and other facilities which it provides to encourage industrial development, supplemented by the provisions of the Industrial Grants (Amendment) Bill, 1962, and the Undeveloped Areas (Amendment) Bill, 1962 which are at present before this House.
Would the Minister say who has been specifically designated to confer with the motor assembly industry. Is it the CIO or officials of his Department?
The industrial reorganisation branch of my Department.
Not the CIO?
The CIO have made the recommendations to be implemented by the motor assembly people and the industrial reorganisation branch of my Department are actively pursuing the matter with the motor assembly people.
They are conferring with the motor car assembly industry.
They are. Meetings have already been held.
Has it occurred to the Minister that it might be a good thing to give encouragement to some of the operatives of these industries to undertake technical education so that they might re-equip themselves for alternative employment before the emergency is upon us? Will he consider asking these firms if they would share with the Government the expense of some scheme designed to help men who are prepared to undertake technical education now and to bear the cost of paying them at least part of their wages during the period of their technical education?
As the Deputy will have heard from answers to other questions, there is an inter-departmental committee considering the rehabilitation and resettlement of any victims of redundancy and if the committee have not had the Deputy's suggestion before them already, I will make sure now that they will have it.
I am obliged to the Minister, but will he direct their attention specifically to the fact that they should not wait until the redundancy has occurred but should suggest to those who apprehend the possibility of redundancy that they should take steps now to equip themselves for alternative employment without waiting for themselves to become a social problem?
The employment will have to be known first. They will want to know that for which they should train themselves.
Does the Minister really believe that there will be any future here for a motor assembly industry if we are admitted to the Common Market? The knock-down condition of cars which inspired the establishment of the assembly industry here will be completely wiped out if we are admitted into the Common Market.
As the Deputy will have read, at least one assembler of cars of a continental make has stated that, by reason of the economic considerations obtaining in his particular firm, he can continue assembling cars.
But the majority have said that they will not be able to continue—it is just too bad, and that is that.
Not the majority.
Certainly those who appeared on television.
I have seen those who appeared on television and they are not the majority.
If someone comes along, someone who is not at present connected with the motor business, with a proposition that would be likely to provide employment for people who would become redundant, will the same inducements be given to him as are at present given to those engaged in the motor assembly industry?
The same inducements could not be given because the importation of cars is involved, but equivalent inducements would be offered.
Does the Minister wish to convey to the Dáil that a significant percentage of assemblers will stay in business if Ireland enters the Common Market?
What I am trying to convey, as against what some Deputies seem to be trying to convey, to the public is that we believe in the enterprise of the Irish people, both those engaged in the motor assembly business and other industries, to continue to give employment. I deprecate the efforts of those——
This is the CIO report we are considering.
I know that, and it is because of the CIO report that we are taking action, notwithstanding the woes and wails so clamantly made by some Deputies.
That is merely a smokescreen. Will the Minister answer my question?
Order. Question No. 23.
Will these people convert their assembly works in order to give employment?
Certainly.
Does the Minister believe that a significant number will continue to offer employment if this country goes into the Free Trade Area?
I have called Question No. 23.
In reply to the Deputy, I have said that.
Does the Minister believe a significant percentage——
Chair!
Cathaoir, má's é do thoil é.
Order. I have called Question No. 23.
That is what Deputy Ó Briain was sitting on when Wicklow was frozen.
I have called Question No. 23.
It is just as well, a Cheann Comhairle, because these workers would be driven out of the country with all these supplementaries.