asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in view of his predecessor's statement on 2nd April 1965 that the Industrial Development Authority had completed negotiations with the firm of E. H. Brammer of Hamburg for the establishment of a new factory at Skibbereen, County Cork, which would employ 90 workers and that a substantial grant had been made available by An Foras Tionscal, he will indicate the present position in the matter, stating the reasons for the delay in the erection of the factory; and if any part of the grant allocated has been paid.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Skibbereen Factory.
52.
Following negotiations between the Industrial Development Authority and E. H. Brammer, Hamburg, Germany, Messrs Brammer agreed that they would establish a factory at Skibbereen in which they would employ 90 workers in the production of knitted garments for export. An Foras Tionscal informed Messrs. Brammer that they were prepared to make a substantial grant. Messrs. Brammer indicated that the amount was acceptable to them. The announcement of 2nd April, 1965, was then published. Subsequently Messrs. Brammer decided not to go ahead with the project. No part of the grant was paid.
Am I to assume that nothing is to happen in Skibbereen and that this factory has no purpose other than the advertising of Fianna Fáil on the Saturday before the election?
That was the whole purpose.
If the Deputy thinks that anyone went to the trouble of bringing somebody from Hamburg to advertise Fianna Fáil, he is going out of his way.
That would be no trouble.
Am I to assume from the Minister's reply that, despite the very definite statement of the Minister for Finance, this factory has now been forgotten and that there is no likelihood of its being erected in the future or of negotiations being entered into again with Messrs. Brammer, or whoever these German people are, with a view to getting the factory going, unless, of course, it was an election hoax? If it was, then there is no point in wasting time discussing it.
The decision not to go ahead was made by the promoter of the factory. Every help, every grant, every incentive that could be given by the State was given.
There is no useful purpose served in creating false impressions.
There was no false impression created.
It was very useful to Fianna Fáil.
It served a useful purpose in getting votes in the area for the Government.
Grants were allocated and accepted by a reputable firm.