asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the circumstances in which his Department purchased at a public auction the premises of the Irish Worsted Mills at Portlaoise, County Laois; the nature of any considerations which took place with the IDA who had entered into a commitment for the retention of these premises for industrial purposes to provide substantial employment in the area; and if he will now withdraw from the property in favour of the IDA.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Portlaoise Property Sale.
43.
My Department purchased the premises in question at a public auction for telephone purposes. There was no prior consultation with the IDA. I have given instructions that the premises shall be transferred to the IDA for industrial use, and that in future the IDA shall be consulted whenever my Department proposes to acquire premises which were in industrial use.
Is the Minister aware that as a result of his prompt action in this matter the local traders and business people of Portlaoise are deeply grateful and indebted to him?
He made a mess of it.
Is the Minister aware that, despite the fact that the order he is speaking about was given last Thursday as a result of a request from the IDA, something is wrong in the telecommunications section in view of the fact that his colleague, Deputy O.J. Flanagan, did not know about it until last Sunday?
I accept full responsibility for all decisions taken in this matter. I would draw the attention of the House to the fact that the modus operandi under which my Department was operating was one which was operating up to now and which is being changed in this respect. I have directed that the IDA shall be consulted in such cases henceforth. No such regulation was in force heretofore. This has now been corrected.
The Minister will agree that some hours after the public auction was held it was known that his Department was the highest bidder. I immediately contacted his Department——
Will Deputies please avoid making statements in this matter?
I accept that this is an order which the Minister has found to be necessary. Would the Minister not agree that such an event never occurred before, arising from the straightforward, honest-to-goodness relationship between the Minister for Industry and Commerce and the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs.
The relations between the two Departments are excellent at the present time and the answer to the Deputy's question is an illustration of this. We are prepared to review all matters that come forward so as to ensure that the result will be the most satisfactory from the point of view of the needs of the public.
Could we have an answer to Deputy Lalor's question?
The Chair is calling the next question.
Are we not entitled to look for an answer to the question put by Deputy Lalor, which arose directly out of the Minister's reply, where he referred to what had operated in the past under the previous Government? Would the Minister say whether this problem arose in the past?
The Chair has called the next question.
I want to ask one supplementary question.
I have called the next question.
Are we to take it——
Deputy Dowling must resume his seat.
Can we get an answer from the Minister?
I am calling Question No. 44.
I want to know if the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs is on speaking terms with the Minister for Industry and Commerce?
The Deputy has made his point. Will he please resume his seat?