asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in view of the fact that former employees of a factory (details supplied) in County Donegal have been unemployed for the past six months, he will make a decision as a matter of urgency on the report of the Fair Trade Commission on the proposed purchase of the factory; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - County Donegal Factory.
118.
I was notified under the Mergers, Take-overs and Monopolies (Control) Act, 1978, as amended, of the proposed take-over of the factory referred to by the Deputy, on 27 June 1989. Additional information in relation to the proposal was requested by me within one month of the notification, as permitted by the Act. However, while certain information has been received, the notifying parties have failed to respond fully to the request for information. Accordingly, the three-months statutory time limit within which I must make a decision has not yet commenced.
While I have received the report of the Fair Trade Commission of their investigations of this proposed take-over, I would prefer to receive all of the information requested, before I take a decision on this case. I do not, however, intend to postpone a decision indefinitely and I will take one as soon as possible.