asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if his attention has been drawn to a report in which details are given of loans and grants to a textile company, of its heavy losses, and of the fact that the production of this company is being sold at less than cost with resultant loss of employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Financial Aid to Textile Company.
71.
I have seen the report referred to by the Deputy. While I do not accept as accurate all the statements made in the report, I have received assurances from the textile company in question that its products are not at present being sold at unprofitable prices and that it will not engage in unfair trading practices of the kind mentioned by the Deputy.
Does the Minister accept that unfair trading practices were indulged in up to now? Does he regard it as normal business practice that a company with a subscribed capital of £45,000 from the proprietors should receive loans and grants to the extent of approximately £700,000 at a time when a Minister of State was from 1951 to 1953, according to this article, chairman of that company? In fact he was a member during that time until his resignation from the Government.
If the Deputy has a question to put down in that regard, he can do so.
The question I would wish to put down might not be in order as a written question.
It should not be asked as a supplementary——
I do not know who made the rule but my question was changed.
Surely it is in order as a supplementary question?
A question that is not in order as a written question is not in order as a supplementary.
Since it was allowed as a supplementary, it should have been in order on the Order Paper.
It is Tweedledum and Tweedledee.
It is not.
What does the Minister think of this? A Minister of State from 1951 to 1953, Deputy Paddy Smith, was chairman of a company with a subscribed capital of £45,000 which got another £700,000——
I am not accepting any statement made by the Deputy in this regard. If he wishes to put down a question, I am not going to stop him.
That is all right.