asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if there is any requirement on car assembly firms to maintain an adequate supply of spare parts for the cars that they supply.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Motor Car Spare Parts.
64.
There is no specific statutory obligation on assemblers to maintain supplies of spare parts for their cars.
Does the Minister not think there should be?
No. If an assembler wants to sell cars, part and parcel of the successful sale of cars is being in a position to supply and provide spare parts. If the purchaser of a particular model of car cannot get sufficient spare parts at reasonably short notice, the assembler would very shortly go out of business. The availability of spare parts is a necessary factor to the success of the trade of an assembler.
The Minister said here yesterday that arrangements had been made by the Government with car assemblers to protect employment here. Would the Minister not think that as they have had concessions and arrangements made for them they should maintain an adequate supply of spare parts? What would the Minister think of a car sitting idle waiting for a spare part for six weeks?
I should be very annoyed.
So would I. I happen to have it.
Yesterday's question dealt with the price of spare parts.
I think the Minister should look into the position. It is a Continental car.