Vol. 259 No. 11
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if his attention has been drawn to a statement (details supplied) by the general manager of the IDA that since the Derry Killings and the burning of the British Embassy in Dublin nine industrial projects which would have provided over 1,000 new jobs have been postponed by their foreign backers; and what action he intends taking to rectify the position.
40.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied) of danger signals to the economy including the postponement of nine industrial projects which would employ a thousand people; and if he will make a statement on his proposals to overcome the effects of this event.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 40 together.
I have seen the Press reports referred to by the Deputy. The IDA has maintained contact with all the firms concerned, and is confident that, if there is no further worsening of the Northern situation, the majority of them will proceed with their projects in Ireland. I understand that, since the statement mentioned in the Press reports was made, one of the firms referred to has decided to proceed with negotiations. This project would provide 120 jobs at full production.
Surely the Minister is aware that people both inside and outside this country are losing confidence in this State because of the inaction of the Government, the fact that the Government are standing idly by and allowing the drift to anarchy about which we have spoken so often here, and that we have now reached the point that gunmen are strutting the streets of this country and that there is a danger of a Cuban-type takeover?
The question relates to jobs.
That is the reason why people with money have no confidence in this country, because there is nobody governing the country. It is time the Government either governed or that they got out and left room for somebody who will.
In regard to the Minister's reference to a possible worsening of the Northern situation, would he not agree that it is not just a question of the Northern situation——
Hear, hear.
——that it is not only the Northern situation that has caused the present difficulties? Would he not agree it is also the situation which has arisen in the Republic itself under this Government and which has been contributed to by acts and omissions and statements of members of the Government?
No. I attribute the problem in this regard to the Northern situation.
Surely the Minister is aware that Ministers here were accused of bringing in arms to murder fellow-Irishmen and that has led to the fact that there is no confidence——
The Deputy may not discuss these matters. The question deals with jobs.
Surely the Minister is aware that Fianna Fáil backbenchers, Deputies and Senators, are going around this country saying they see nothing wrong with shooting British soldiers, that they should be shot. You have the Government double talk, double think.
That is not so.
One of your members made this statement at a meeting of Westmeath County Council and made it at a meeting of the Seanad, and Fianna Fáil Deputies and Senators are making it throughout the length and breadth of the country.
That is not so.
It certainly is so. It has been stated in the Seanad and throughout the length and breadth of the country. You are trying to take the two sides of the road, afraid you will lose a vote. People are losing confidence in the country and bank managers are refusing to give money.
This has nothing to do with the question.
Certainly as regards industry there is a loss of confidence. People with money will not give it because there is no Government here to protect their interests or to protect the people.
The Deputy is talking arrant nonsense.
It is not nonsense. Who is governing the country at the present time? You could wake up in the morning and find a Cuban-type takeover. You are arresting people today and letting them out tomorrow because there is no evidence. Have you not as much evidence one day as you had the previous day? Judges are being told to let them out by your Government.
The Deputy is perpetrating malicious lies.
You blame them at the Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis but you do nothing about it. The Government are standing idly by and the people will suffer in the years ahead.
The Deputy ought to be ashamed of himself.
It is the same thing here as is happening in Northern Ireland because you are doing nothing about it.
Will the Deputy sit down? He is a disgrace to Parliament. The Deputy is abusing every privilege in the House, taking the opportunity of Question Time——
I am not abusing any privileges. We shall have very few privileges here in a very short time if the Government continue as they are doing today.
This is not the cross roads to make such speeches.
You will have no Government.
I am concerned with order in the House.
There is no order left in the country. Mobs are taking over and doing what they like.
The Deputy is not contributing anything to order.
The Government are contributing nothing to order. They have been sitting idly by for a full year.
The Deputy is an Irish Quisling.
I raised a point of order. The point of order I raised was that I heard the Tánaiste accuse a Deputy of this House of perpetrating a malicious lie.
And rightly so.
Is that in order? I am not asking the Minister for Justice.
I did not hear such a statement, and the Deputy will appreciate it was very difficult to hear anything.
It is very difficult to hear a disorderly remark from a Minister.
Deputy L'Estrange is creating this trouble.
It certainly is not. It is the Government who are afraid to govern in case they lose one single vote.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.
I want to raise one question with the Minister for Industry and Commerce——
Questions are over.
