asked the Minister for Labour if he has any proposals to replace the employment assistance granted to firms in the textile industry when the present employment maintenance scheme ends on 31 March 1980.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Textile Industry Employment Assistance.
22.
An interdepartmental group representative of Labour, Industry, Commerce and Tourism, and Finance are urgently examining possible measures to assist the textile, clothing and footwear industries when the present employment maintenance scheme ends on 31 March 1980.
Is the Minister aware of the grave situation existing in the textile industry? I understand this is one of the reasons why Seafield Gentex and Dubtex have cut back on their work force. Many textile industries are gravely concerned——
A statement is not in order at Question Time.
Does the Minister intend to continue the employment subsidy?
I should like to put one fact clearly on record in this House. I think I know more about the Seafield Gentex situation than the Deputy. The employment maintenance scheme had absolutely no relevance to a decision taken by the board of Seafield Gentex last week. I want to make that very clear. The Deputy was absolutely incorrect when he inferred it had a relevance. Regarding employment in the textile industry generally and in associated industries, I wish to point out that the Government showed their concern for vulnerable industries such as textiles, footwear, clothing and tanneries. Although the previous Government did not do so even though they were under severe pressure to do it, in our first budget in 1978 we introduced the employment maintenance scheme. This scheme had to have approval from Brussels and it was mainly to counter the effects of the temporary employment subsidy then in existence in the UK. In 1979 we repeated the maintenance scheme and again sought approval from Brussels. Because of the ending of the temporary employment subsidy in the UK it was made clear to us by Brussels that we could not continue our scheme after 31 March 1980. We are aware of and are concerned about the vulnerability of such industries and because of that we are examining urgently possible alternatives to the employment maintenance scheme to aid the industries in question.
Will the Minister state if he has any proposals to replace the present employment maintenance scheme? We are not interested in side-stepping the issue. The textile industry in particular is not interested——
The Minister has answered the Deputy's question.
No, he has not. He has side-stepped the issue. He has said the Government have no power in the matter. I am asking him if he has any proposals in the matter.
Obviously the Deputy is not a listener. He is one of those people who believe in talking. I never said that. I said that because of the necessity to end the maintenance scheme in its present form the three Departments concerned are examining urgently possible alternative means of aiding vulnerable industries when the scheme ends on 31 March.
I have a final supplementary question about Seafield Gentex.
Question Time is over.
That is a separate question but I will answer a supplementary question.
The Minister has mentioned that he is having the matter of a subsidy looked into. At the moment 400 people are becoming unemployed in Seafield Gentex. The Minister has implied strongly that the board of that company are at fault. If that is so, what steps is he taking to ensure that the employment of these people will be maintained and saved?
That is a separate question but I am permitting it. The Minister wishes to reply.
He has implied that the board of Seafield Gentex——
Of course it is a separate question but what was implied by a Member of this House was that the decision by the board of Seafield Gentex was in some way connected with the scheme which has not yet expired but which will be expiring on 31 March.
(Interruptions.)
I have permitted Deputy O'Toole to ask a question. It is now after the time.
I will not take Deputy White's dishonesty here. The inference that he knows nothing about the situation where the employment maintenance subsidy has no recommendation whatsoever is dishonest.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.
On a point of order, now that the Minister for Labour is here, is he going to make a statement to the House on what action he proposes to take to solve the unofficial dispute at Dublin docks?
That question does not arise.
The Deputy should watch the evening papers.
I give notice that I will raise this on the Order of Business tomorrow.
I would like to raise on the Adjournment the urgent concern of the Lough Swilly railway in County Donegal and particularly that they have not been granted the same subsidy as CIE.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I want to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of a Private Notice Question put down by me today.
I will communicate with the Deputy regarding that matter also.