In the little Estimate debate we had towards the end of the main debate, Deputy Hogan expressed his concern about the position of the flour milling industry and referred in particular to the possibility that a flour mill in the town of Cahir might close down. I do not think I need assure the Deputy that I could not be indifferent, as he thought I might be, to the prospect of people losing their jobs. The fact is that I must face the realities of the situation. In the first place, I want to make it clear that neither I nor anybody else could have given the Irish Flour Millers Association power to embark on what he described as "a process of integration which will lead to a monopoly."
For many years now there has been a continuous decline in the consumption of flour. The flour millers formed an adaptation council and prepared a voluntary scheme of rationalisation under which compensation would be payable to any miller opting to cease production, and of course to his employees for the loss of their employment. Between 1962 and 1963 eight mills availed of that voluntary scheme and ceased production. Even with these closures, a survey of the flour milling industry showed in March, 1964 that the production capacity of our mills is 50 per cent above our requirements. It is possible that further mills may avail of the scheme and cease production.
The Deputy asked at what stage would I intervene. I think he means that I would at some stage come in and stop mills from closing down. I explained already to the Deputy and the House in answer to parliamentary questions that I am not in a position to require a mill to remain in operation. The conditions leading to the closure of the mills I have mentioned were not created by the Irish Flour Millers Association or by anybody else. Their adaptation council is not forcing any mill to close. As I said, the rationalisation scheme is a voluntary one and as such the miller avails of the scheme which is aimed at adapting this industry to the realities of the situation. I cannot see how I could step in and tell the adaptation council that they must stop trying to face up to the realities of the situation. This problem is being faced up to in the only way it can. I deplore the loss of employment in this industry but a decision had to be made. I am attempting in the short time I intend to take this afternoon to try to explain to the Deputies what has happened in this situation.
