asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he has examined the feasibility and need for the building of a smelter for the refining of minerals from Irish mines, especially those at Navan, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Smelter Plant.
25.
An official study of the feasibility of establishing a smelter for the refining of Irish ores has not been carried out. As a result of a study carried out by private interests, certain proposals were submitted to the Industrial Development Authority. Examination of all aspects of these proposals has not yet been completed and I am not at present in a position to make a statement on the matter.
Would the Minister ask the company who have indicated that they have made arrangements with foreign smelters in regard to the ore body to hold their hand until he is satisfied that the minerals will not be required for home smelters?
The Deputy can take it that if private firms are contemplating investment either in a mine or in a smelter they will take the normal commercial precautions of ensuring that there is an outlet for what they are taking out of the ground and that there is material for the smelter to process if they build one. It is normal commercial prudence not to invest a large amount of money in a smelter if the materials to operate it are not available.
What if the materials are already promised? I have read that the existing company has done a long-term deal with other foreign smelters for the material. If the material has already been promised by this company to foreign smelters how can a native smelter prosper?
There are a number of assumptions in the Deputy's question, for example, the assumption that all the available concentrate has been committed elsewhere.
Deputy Wilson.
On what date were the proposals made by the private company to the IDA?
To which proposals does the Deputy refer?
The Minister mentioned proposals from a private company to the IDA and said that these proposals were under consideration.
This is a proposal for a smelter?
Yes.
There was an application in February, 1969, and again in March, 1970, there was contact between the company and the IDA.