asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will expand on his recent reference (details supplied) to a smelter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ore Smelter.
30.
At the recent Labour Party Conference I made a passing reference to the fact that more than a smelter would be involved in the spin-off industries from mining, natural gas and oil. I had in mind that a natural further development would be the establishment of metal using industries to utilise the unwrought metals produced from a smelter, but it is clearly not possible to be more specific at this stage.
There have been no developments in regard to the establishment of a smelter since 5th July, 1973, when I answered an earlier question by the Deputy on the subject.
I was hoping the Minister would say specifically whether he wanted to convey to the conference that he proposed looking after the construction of a smelter, without which one cannot talk about maximising mineral wealth, or whether he was only fooling them? Will the Minister state if he indicated that it was his intention to have a smelter built?
I think the application to build a smelter at Cork is still live and I am sure it is the Minister's intention, subject to the IDA and other conditions, to go ahead with it. However, beyond that I cannot go.
I appreciate I am not putting the question to the Minister who made the statement. With the permission of the Chair, perhaps I could table a similar question for next week.