asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether money from any public fund was granted to a firm (details supplied) on the understanding that its products would be exported exclusively; if so, the sum of money involved; and whether Irish traders are now obliged to purchase the products of this firm as a condition precedent to obtaining licences for the purchase of similar products elsewhere.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Grants to Firm.
54.
Grants amounting to £50,000 were approved by An Foras Tionscal for the firm named by the Deputy towards the provision of new machinery for the production of PVC floor-coverings and tufted carpets. Having regard to the home market interests of existing Irish manufacturers, it was made a condition of the grants that the company's entire output of PVC floor-coverings of a value below 9/- per square yard should be exported and that the company's entire output of tufted carpets made from wool or wool/synthetic fibre mixture should be exported. Irish traders are not obliged to purchase the products of the firm named as a condition precedent to obtaining licences for the purchase of similar products elsewhere.
Is the Minister aware that the firm in question have approached traders who have sought licences for the importation of curtain material to say that they would tell the Department to grant such licences in the event of the traders in question purchasing a like amount of the curtain material from them but that otherwise they would oppose the granting of the import licence in respect of the curtain material?
I am not so aware, and as I said, there is no question of this firm having any say in the matter. The only thing remotely resembling the matter raised by the Deputy and of which I am aware is that this firm makes tufted carpeting suitable for floor covering for motor cars and some firms who recently wanted this material were referred to this firm before they were allowed to import it. The firm, in fact, could not supply it. This is the only thing I am aware of. If what the Deputy says is true, there is no basis for it as far as that firm is concerned.
Can the Minister from his own knowledge say whether they do manufacture curtain material?
I am not aware that they do.