Vol. 226 No. 7
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is in a position to make a statement as to when production of aeroplanes is expected to commence at the Potez aeroplane factory at Baldonnel, County Dublin, giving details of the aeroplane parts being produced at present.
171.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will give details of the total amount to date made available from Irish sources to Potez Aerospace, and details as to the amount of employment originally envisaged and now actually being provided by the company at its Baldonnel factory, County Dublin.
172.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if in view of the anxiety of the staff at Potez Limited, Baldonnel, County Dublin, concerning their future employment he will make a statement on the up-to-date position and future prospects of this industry.
173.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is now in a position to state what are the future prospects for Potez Aerospace.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 170, 171, 172 and 173 together.
I would refer the Deputies to my reply to similar questions on 29th September, 1966. There has been no material change in the meantime. I mentioned then that certain things were taking place and that it would be inappropriate for me to make a general statement until these things were completed. This is still the case and I am not yet in a position, therefore, to make a full statement to the House on the present situation or on the future prospects of the industry.
Does it not seem strange that since last September in a crisis situation and where £1,390,000 of State funds are involved, nothing has happened? We have been given the same answer since long before last September, that nothing has happened. Does the Minister not think it time that Parliament was informed of the position?
The Deputy will realise, if he thinks back, that I did not say that nothing has happened. What I did say was that the situation had not changed to such an extent that I could now make a full announcement. There have been developments but they have not been completed.
Is the Minister optimistic about the future of the industry?
I am certainly optimistic about the future of the premises.
Does the Minister know that the firm of Handley Page has gone into the production of this type of plane in Hertfordshire and that, although the factory is only in the jig stage, they aready have an order for 120 planes? Does the Minister know that the research alone for this plane cost £5 million? If that is so, it does not seem that there is any reasonable prospect of the Potez industry succeeding.
Is it a fact that these premises are on the books of a number of Continental firms of auctioneers?
I have been assured that there is no truth in that statement.
Has the Minister any information that in the rationalisation of the aeroplane industry in France, the Potez firm is about to be absorbed by another firm?
I am aware that there have been certain developments but they will not affect the factory at Baldonnel.
Does the Minister not realise that this was a loan given to Potez by this Government on behalf of the Irish people and will he tell us if there is any reason why these people should be placed in a privileged position and why there should be no information given as to how things are going, whether things are going wrong or what is happening?
I accept the fact that the Dáil is entitled to information in this regard. The question is at what stage should be information be given.
At every stage.
No. If we were to operate on that basis, there would be no industrial development by people from outside because all their plans and preparations would be broadcast to their competitors. You could not run a business on those lines.
Potez do not seem to have anything to fear from their competitors now.
The Deputies have got an undertaking from my predecessor and from myself that there will be a full statement and a full disclosure to the House but it would not be in the interests of the State or of anybody else to make such a statement at this stage.
