asked the Minister for Transport if he will state whether, in circumstances where dockyards within the State are not able to fill contracts for the Irish flag non-Naval vessels, it is the policy of the Government to give priority to dockyards in Belfast.
Written Answers. - Dockyard Contracts.
685.
There has been no known case to date of the placing of an order for a ship in excess of the capacity of shipyards in the State by any Irish interests, either public or private, and the prospects of such an order materialising in the foreseeable future are currently considered to be remote. Accordingly there has been no question to date of developing a policy appropriate to the circumstances visualised by the Deputy.