asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if there is any likelihood that the plant of Messrs. Potez at Galway will, in the near future, go back into full production; whether the promised potential of employment for 700 men will in fact be fulfilled in the foreseeable future; if he is aware that the wholesale redundancy at Potez, particularly taken in connection with the closure of at least two other firms, and redundancy at various others have created a most serious employment situation in Galway; and if he will thoroughly investigate the possibility of any other firm taking over the factory now occupied by Messrs. Potez with a view to putting it into production.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Potez Galway Factory.
82.
Due to the circumstances which led to the laying off of workers at Potez in Galway, I am not in a position to say when the factory will resume full production or whether the promised potential employment will be fulfilled. I understand, however, that the company are making efforts to promote the sale of existing stock to prepare for normal resumption of work as early as possible.
I am aware of the situation created in Galway by redundancy but I think it would be premature at this stage to consider the possibility of any other firm taking over the factory now occupied by Messrs. Potez in view of the efforts by that company to resume normal production.
Can the Minister say what steps he has taken, or whether he has taken any steps, to ensure employment for these people who were displaced?
As I told the Deputy when he raised this question previously, the problem is one of marketing. The firm are taking steps to sell their stock as quickly as possible so that they may be in a position to reemploy the people on the production of the same type of goods.
Is it not correct that the Minister stated in that reply that the situation was caused by the mild winter? Surely it is not when the winter comes along that——
I do not think I remarked on the weather at all that day.
May I refer the Minister to a previous reply when he said that he had read about this in the newspapers? What contact had he with the firm other than reading about this in the newspapers?
I have taken a certain line of investigation which at the moment I am not ready to disclose.
Does the Minister feel there is any hope for the workers arising out of this investigation? There is no reply.