asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware of the recession in the textile industry; whether his Department have held consultations with the management and trade unions concerned; and whether any proposals are under consideration to alleviate the grave threat of unemployment in the industry.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Textile Industry.
45.
I am aware that, particularly since the middle of 1970, trading conditions for a number of the sectors of the textiles industry have been difficult; this has not been confined to this country. The impact of these difficulties varies as between one sector and another and, indeed, between individual firms in the same sector.
Consultation with both management and unions is a regular feature of the work of my Department and, during the past year, a number of meetings were held at which the present and future progress of sectors of the textile industry was discussed.
While I do not altogether accept the implications contained in the last part of the Deputy's question, I can say that I am fully conscious of the need to keep to a minimum the number of jobs threatened in any sector and, in a number of cases, where firms were experiencing difficulty, my Department has been in direct contact with a view to giving all possible assistance.