asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism the steps he proposes to take in view of the increase in the number of unemployed in the North Eastern Regional Development Organisation region covering Counties Cavan, Louth and Monaghan.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - North Eastern Region Unemployment.
19.
I am aware that unemployment in the north-east region has increased in recent years.
However, within the past three months a number of new industrial projects have been announced for the region. These include a new meat processing plant to be established by Ox-Fleisch Gmbh of West Germany in Carrickmacross, the successful take-over of Westinghouse in Dunleer by Glen Dimplex Group, the major expansion programme by castlebar Bacon Company Limited in Monaghan town and Co-operative Poultry Products in Cootehill and the new manufacturing venture by Town of Monaghan Co-op into yogurt and related dairy products. Irish Meat Exports Limited are continuing to expand in Coolshannagh, County Monaghan.
The Industrial Development Authority are promoting a total of 335,000 sq. ft. of factory space at nine locations in the region together with 231 acres at 17 locations for development of suitable small, medium and large industries.
The IDA will continue their efforts to promote these resources actively with a view to providing new employment opportunities in the region.
Does the Minister agree that a very serious situation exists in this area due to the measures introduced by this Government, especially taxation measures, over the last number of years? A special examination of this area has to be carried out not alone by the Minister's Department but by a number of other Departments as well.
We spent the first 15 minutes of Question Time yesterday discussing one of the Border towns. We had another question from the Deputy on another Border town subsequently. I think we have covered that subject very fully already.
The remaining Questions will appear on tommorrow's Order Paper.
May I ask the Chair to direct me about where I can get information from the Taoiseach about the task force of Ministers on employment which he set up under his own chairmanship? I put down this question but your reply baffles me. You said:
Dear Deputy Reynolds,
I regret I have to disallow the Question you addressed to the Taoiseach regarding the task force of Ministers on employment under his chairmanship. The Taoiseach has no responsibility to the Dáil in this matter.
I want to make this perfectly clear: that is my considered ruling and adjudication on the matter. I conveyed that to Deputy Reynolds. I am very sorry I cannot allow it to be raised in the House. If Deputy Reynolds wants to come to my office and discuss it with me, he will be welcome.
I would be glad to attend your office, but are you saying that the Taoiseach has no responsibility to this House?
I am saying that I cannot allow my ruling to be raised in the House in this manner.
How might I raise it in this House because I believe the Taoiseach has responsibility for all his actions——
If the Deputy wishes to discuss this with me in my office he is welcome but I cannot and I will not allow it to be raised here in this manner.
There must be some format under which I could raise this matter.
That is another way of questioning my ruling in the House, and I will not have my ruling——
That is fine, but is there any other way in which this can be raised?
The Deputy should read Standing Orders.
In his Programme for Government the Taoiseach set up a task force under his own chairmanship. Are you telling the House that he is not responsible and has no function——
The Deputy is being disorderly.
Maybe the task force never met. Is that it?
They met——
In regard to last night's "Today Tonight" programme——
I want to make the Chair's decision very clear.
Will you bear with me for a minute?
I want to refer to section 31 of the Broadcasting Act which was breached in last night's "Today Tonight" programme and it will be breached again tonight——
Please resume your seat. Deputy Enright did me the courtesy of conveying to me the matter he was going to raise. You put down a Private Notice Question on section 31 of the Broadcasting Act and last night's "Today Tonight" programme. I ruled it out of order for private notice. Just as I told Deputy Reynolds, I am sorry but I cannot have a decision of mine questioned in the House. To put it bluntly, I cannot make fish of one and flesh of another. I am sorry but I cannot hear you on this subject. Like Deputy Reynolds, you are welcome to come to my office.
I do not want you to make any type of meal of us, but under Statutory Instrument No. 17 of 1983——
You are out of order.
Last night's programme was out of order and tonight's programme too will be out of order——
Deputy Enright is ignoring the Chair.
I do not wish to do so——
You are doing it. I am moving to the next business.
It is my intention to raise this matter on the Adjournment——
I will communicate with the Deputy.
——because I am concerned about a breach of the Broadcasting Act and the Statutory Instrument. This is a very serious matter.
As I said, I will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of the Private Notice Question which was disallowed today.
I will communicate with the Deputy.