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Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 27 Mar 2002

Vol. 169 No. 16

Arramara Teoranta (Acquisition of Shares) Bill, 2001 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Second and Subsequent Stages.

Question proposed: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."

Is Bille an-ghearr ach Bille tábhachtach é seo agus tá súil agam go ndéileálfaidh an Teach go tapa leis. Mar atá leagtha amach in alt 3 moltar go n-ardófaí scair an Stáit in Arramara Teoranta go €1.2 milliún le gur féidir clár mór tarrthála agus athmhaoiniú do Arramara Teoranta a chur i bhfeidhm ag teacht le cinní an Rialtais agus comhaontú idir na scairshealbhóirí.

Bunaíodh Arramara Teoranta mar chomhfhiontar in 1947 chun min fheamainne do thionscal na hailgionáite a thairgeadh. Ta 51% den chuideachta i sealbhas Aire na Mara agus na nAcmhainní Nádúrtha, thar ceann an Rialtais agus an chuid eile de na scaireanna ag ISP Alginates (UK) atá lonnaithe in Albain. Tá roinnt deacrachtaí trádála ag an gcomhlacht le roinnt blianta de bharr meath ar mhargadh ailgionáite an domhain. D'oibrigh an comhlacht dhá shaoráid go dtí le gairid – i gCill Chiaráin i gContae na Gailllimhe agus Mín Mhór i gContae Dhún na nGall agus d'fhostaigh go díreach thart ar fhoireann 34 duine, agus thart ar 400 duine ag plé le baint fheamainne go séasúrach ar feadh chósta an iarthair. De bharr athruithe móra ar an margadh idirnáisiúnta, thosaigh deacrachtaí trádála do Arramara in 1999 agus mhéadaigh isteach in 2000 agus 2001 agus d'ardaigh na caillteanais airgeadais, mar is léir sna cuntais.

Tar éis mion-iniúchadh agus mionluachála ar staid an chomhlachta, a rinne foireann comhairleoirí gnó a cheap an Roinn, cheadaigh an Rialtas oibríochtaí na cuideachta a athstruchtúrú, dúnadh mhonarcha an chomhlachta i nDun na nGall agus d'imigh thart ar 15 de phostanna san athstruchtúrú sin. Rinne an t-athstruchtúrú le tacaíocht iomlán na scairshealbhóirí agus rinneadh é le súil le sláinte airgeadais an chomhlachta a thabhairt ar ais agus le súil go mairfeadh sí go fadtéarmach. Ta dóchas agam go gcuideoidh na céimeanna atá glactha go dtí seo agus na cinn atá pleanáilte leis an gcuideachta a fhorbairt agus a háit amach anseo a chinntiú agus dul chun cinn a dhéanamh.

Mar chuid de na bearta athstruchtúrtha cheadaigh an Rialtas, i gcomhar le ISP Alginates – an scairshealbhóir mionlaigh – pacáiste mór airgeadais don chuideachta bunaithe ar phlean gnó mion ag clúdú na tréimhse suas go 2006, a leag an comhlacht amach le cúnamh ó na comhairleoirí gnó. Tá breis is €500,000 curtha i bhfeidhm cheana féin chun freastal ar chostais iomarcaíochta a thárla de bharr dhúnadh na monarchan chomh maith le dámhtaí eile a rinne an Coimisiún Caidrimh Oibreachais (LRC). Tá an tsuim maoinithe san idirthréimhse ag saoráidí bainc a rinne an chuideachta a idirbheartú. Tá gá le €800,000 eile chun uasghrádú a dhéanamh ar an áitreamh monarchana i gCill Chiaráin agus chun trealamh nua a chur isteach ansin chun freastal ar riachtanais amach anseo le deis a thabhairt don chuideachta forbairt agsu chun éagsúlú chuig táirgí breis luacha. Tá na comhshocruithe riachtanacha tosaithe faoi láthair agus feidhmeofar iad sa deireadh, faoi réir ar ndóigh an Teach seo an Bille a cheadú.

Meastar gur thart ar €11 milliún é an ranníoc eacnamaíoch a dhéanann tionscal na feamainne in Éirinn. Baineann thart ar 87% den láimhdeachas sin le díolacháin onnmhairithe. Is é an rún atá ann go mbeadh Arramara Teoranta, mar an táirgeoir dúchasach feamainne is mó sa tír, in ann buntáiste a bhaint as treochtai a bheidh ag teacht chun cinn maidir leis an earnáil breis luacha agus ardteicneolaíochta.

Táim dóchasach áfach leis an méid seo infheistíochta go mbeidh todhchaí mhaith agus ceann a bheidh slán ó thaobh airgeadais di ag Arramara agus gur féidir na postanna ina mhonarcha agus a soláthróirí, atá suite den chuid is mó sa Ghaeltacht, slán. Is léir go raibh Arramara Teoranta le tamall ag fulaingt ó easpa maoinithe agus easpa fócas gnó straitéiseach nár chuidigh le leibhéil maoinithe, trealamh nua agus pleanála chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar riachtanais a bhí ag athrú ar an margadh feamainne domhanda. Ba chóir go gcuirfeadh an méid atáthar a mholadh anois an chuideachta ar bhonn maith don am atá le teacht agus go fadtéarmach freisin.

Táthar ag leanúint ar aghaidh áfach chun malairt fiontair a fháil do mhonarcha Mhín Mhor agus tá mé féin, an tAire Stáit, Máire Ní Chochlain agus Údarás na Gaeltachta ag deileáil leis sin. Tá Arramara ag leanúint ag fáil soláthar feamainne i nDún na nGall. Le míonna anuas bhí fadhbanna ag an gcomhlacht lucht iompair a fháil leis an bhfeamainn a iompar ag rátaí réalaíoch a bhí iomaíoch ar bhonn trachtála. Tá an chuideachta ag obair faoi láthair chun socruithe sásúla eile a dhéanamh. Tá an-tábhacht leis na moltaí seo ó thaobh an méid atá in ann do Arramara Teo agus molaimse agus earnáil feamainne na hÉireann an Bille go láidir don Teach.

I welcome the Minister to the House and the Bill. I am disappointed the seaweed industry is taking a bashing throughout the country. This industry once thrived along the western seaboard, but it now seems to be concentrated in a few areas. I am disappointed that the factory in Donegal has closed. The Bill will hopefully put the remaining factory in Galway on a sound footing and secure the future of the seaweed industry on the western seaboard.

There are many difficulties with the seaweed industry. The harvesting of seaweed is laborious and can only take place at certain times throughout the year. The transporting of seaweed from shorelines to the plants in Galway or Donegal is expensive because of its weight and bulk. I hope, as the Minister said, that the restructuring of this facility in County Galway will upgrade the factory, maintain the viability of the jobs there and, above all, guarantee that markets will be found for the few remaining people harvesting seaweed along the western seaboard.

The seaweed industry has provided a basic income for families along the western seaboard for many years. It was one of the few industries that could supplement incomes and many people were once involved in the harvesting of seaweed. A former Member of this House, Myles Staunton, was one of the first people involved in the business and he was a big employer along the western seaboard, based in Newport, County Mayo. He had many outlets for his products in Scotland and so forth.

The loss of jobs is unfortunate. However, the main concern now is that a market can be found for seaweed and its by-products. I hope that the re-structuring of the finances of this company and of the factory itself will place it on a sound footing. However, there should be a better mechanism for the harvesting of seaweed and grant aid should be made available to those working on it. It is very cumbersome and not the nicest of jobs. Harvesters have to get down to the shoreline, pull up the seaweed, drag it out on to roads or beaches, haul it on to lorries and then transport it to Galway or, previously, to Donegal for manufacturing. If there were some new designs of equipment, it would be a great incentive for the remaining harvesters. It is a dying art.

The company in Galway cannot continue to operate if it does not have raw material to work with and that material can only be obtained along the seashore. Harvesters need some assistance also because these people will keep the factory jobs in existence. There is no mention of the harvesters in the Bill, but they are critical to the entire seaweed industry. I ask the Minister to consider how we could assist harvesters.

The Bill is very short and only concerns the restructuring of the Galway company to guarantee its viability and the closure of the Donegal plant. It is designed to help maintain the seaweed industry and I hope it does so.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit chun an Teach. Mar a dúirt sé, cé gur Bille gearr atá anseo Bille tábhachtach atá ann. Tá suim faoi leith agam san mBille seo. Tá an monarcha ar an Mhín Mhór suite míle go leith taobh amuigh den Chlochán Liath, mo bhaile dhúchais féin. Tá suim agam sa cheist, go háirithe mar gheall ar na hoibrithe a bhí ag obair sa mhonarchan sin. Tá aithne agam orthu uilig ó bhí mé i mo ghasur óg.

Níl mé sásta le cuid de na rudaí a tharla sa mhonarchan. Tá fiacha ag an gcomhlacht mar gheall ar pá iomarcaíochta a íoc leis na hoibrithe. Tá an t-airgead á chur ar fáil ins in mBille seo chun na fiacha sin a íoc ar ais. Cuirfidh an Bille airgead ar fáil do chomhlacht Arramara Teoranta. Tá 51% de scaireanna na comhluchta ag an Stát agus níl sé ceadaithe faoi láthair ach €54,000 de scaireanna a bheith ag an Stát. Nuair a reachtálfar an Bille seo beidh cead €1.2 mhilliún de scaireanna a bheith in úinéireacht an Stáit. Nuair a chuirfear an t-airgead seo isteach sa chomhlacht beidh seans ann ath-struchtúrú a dheánamh ar an gcomhlacht agus clár caipitil a chur i bhfeidhm chun feabhsúcháin a dhéanamh ar an dara mhonarcha atá ag an gcomhlacht i gCill Chiaráin i gCondae na Gaillimhe.

The investment will enable the rescue and refinancing of the company in line with the agreement between the two shareholders, the State, through the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources and the Scottish company, ISP Alginates (UK). I understand that all these matters were discussed and finalised by the Cabinet in December.

In the 55 years of its existence as a company, Arramara Teoranta has received a total investment of just over £80,000. It therefore comes as no surprise that the company has run into financial difficulties. It has struggled for a long time and it is only in the last three years that the company has run into financial difficulties, due largely to substantial trading losses. When the plant in Dungloe closed last June, it was stated that the company was experiencing trading difficulties owing to the downturn in the global alginate market. It is my belief that this difficulty was mainly due to the fact that the minority shareholder, ISP Alginates, had deliberately manipulated the situation within the company by gradually reducing the output that they took from the factory in Dungloe. Having become involved with a company based in either Canada or Iceland, they reduced their intake from Dungloe from 6,000 tonnes of seaweed three or four years ago to 1,500 tonnes this year.

For many years, the Dungloe plant totally relied on Kelco, Scotland, for their turnover and markets. When ISP reduced its intake, the manager in Dungloe sought other markets for their product. I am disappointed that a decision was made to close the Dungloe plant before a replacement industry could be found for the area. I have expressed my disappointment to the Minister. At the time of the closure, I accepted that ISP was no longer interested in maintaining the Dungloe plant. I now see that they are providing only 49% of the £400,000 redundancy money requested by the workers. Furthermore, they will provide no further funding for the restructuring of the plant at Kilkieran and they are to dilute their shareholding.

I am disappointed that the State chose to close the plant rather than find another company to take over. The Minister has stated that consultants have explored such possibilities, but I believe more of an effort should have been made to call the bluff of ISP. Sole blame for the closure of the Dungloe plant lies with ISP. That plant provided full-time employment for 15 people; 19 people are employed at Kilkieran. As the Minister has stated, there were up to 400 harvesters based around the west coast, from north Donegal to Galway. The manager of the plant at Dungloe is a friend of mine and I know that for years he managed both plants. Now we find that it is is the Dungloe plant that has to suffer.

The Minister stated that ISP was insisting that Dungloe had to be closed. When the plant closed in June, we were told that £350,000 was needed to provide for redundancy packages and the revi talisation of the plant in Galway. The State's subsequent investment of €800,000 in Galway leaves sour grapes with those of us in Donegal. Had the State acted differently, and dispensed with Kelco or ISP, I believe the jobs at Dungloe and the livlihoods of 400 sea harvesters could have been saved.

The difficulties at Dungloe are now exacerbated by difficulties in the transportation of the seaweed to Galway. I appreciate what the Minister has done to try to resolve this situation. However, the amount of seaweed being transported between Donegal and Galway is restricted to one or two loads per week and only five harvesters are getting the opportunity to cut the seaweed. I do not know for how long this can last. Negotiations are taking place – I am aware that executives of Údarás na Gaeltachta are meeting with private companies in other countries in an effort to re-open Dungloe with a different type of seaweed product. What worries me is that, even if a new company is found, there will be a reduction in the amount of seaweed required and people who have been harvesting seaweed for 25 years will have nowhere to market their product.

The Minister merits praise for the manner in which he handled the redundancy issue at the Dungloe plant, particularly after the Labour Relations Commission made additional awards. The staff of the Department for the Marine and Natural Resources made every effort to ensure that those who were made redundant received their money in time for Christmas.

I have no grudge against the plant at Kilkieran and I wish it every success. I hope an alternative industry can be found for the Dungloe plant. However, people other than the factory workers have been affected. Some harvesters have not cut seaweed since last June, because there was no demand from the plant in Galway. Some of those harvesters who have continued to work may not be able to sustain it much longer. I ask that the Minister look at the possibility of organising some form of compensation for harvesters, particularly those in Donegal, who are now depending on social welfare benefits to survive. There is also a lorry driver, a friend of mine, who transported the seaweed from Mayo to Donegal. He had to give up and sell off most of his plant because the small volume he transported did not justify staying in business.

The area in which we live has for years been synonymous with great unemployment. When the factory was established there was nothing in County Donegal, apart from the option of emigration. The factory provided employment for a small number of people in the Dungloe area. I wish the Minister, the Minister of State, Deputy Coughlan, and the management of the company every success in trying to attract a new industry into the plant. I had great hopes for the seaweed industry following the report published a few years ago, but, unfortunately, matters have not worked out in County Donegal. The industry has contributed substantially, mainly through exports, to the national economy and those of areas such as County Galway where I hope the plant will continue to be successful.

The eventual takeover by a private company of the plant in Kilkieran has been referred to. If that is the case, I am disappointed this aspect was not looked at immediately the Dungloe plant ran into difficulties. I blame the co-shareholder, ISP, for the debacle and closure of the Dungloe plant. I also place much of the responsibility on the board. The Minister will be aware that there were many difficulties five or six years ago when the rainbow Government replaced a number of directors on the board, one of whom is sitting beside me. The men concerned had both experience and integrity and I would question the ability of some of those who replaced them on the board. Even though board members realised what ISP was doing and that matters were not going well, at the end of the day they sat with their hands underneath their backsides at the final board meeting. Some of them pontificated to be great socialists, but they accepted and voted for the decision to close the Dungloe plant.

The Minister will be aware that as politicians in the area we have had a very difficult time since the announcement of the closure of the factory for which we have been blamed because it is the Government who closed it. However, we are the only politicians and board members who, through the Minister and Minister of State, continue to push to try to find a replacement.

I hope the Minister will understand the reason I have made some of my remarks today. I come from an area which has suffered huge unemployment for many years. The fishing industry has had its difficulties. Salmon fishing, in particular, in the small coastal fishing port of Burtonport, just up the road from Meenamore and Dungloe, has been in difficulties. I appreciate the Minister's efforts to try to provide a sustainable industry for the future. The area has attracted very little employment other than that created by some of the fishing factories and the local co-op in Dungloe which has kept more than 100 people in employment during the years.

I wish the Minister and údarás every success and hope in the immediate future there will be some good news which will take the pressure off all of us.

I thank the Minister for bringing the Bill to the House. The seaweed industry is very important and worth €100 million annually in value added terms. It is of great importance to those who live along the western seaboard.

I welcome the Minister's interest in doing something about Arramara Teoranta. From my experience of dealing with previous Ministers from all political sides, Arramara Teoranta was always kept on the back burner within the Department. There was very little interest in its potential, in doing anything with it or in developing bio-diversity, and very little encouragement for the board to take initiatives.

It appears from the Minister's statement that the financial difficulties of Arramara Teoranta began in 1999. Given my knowledge, economic world trends, the demands made and the vast interest in the development of the alginate business, it is very difficult to understand how the marketplace for Arramara Teoranta has dwindled rather than expanded. There is some truth in what Senator Bonner said that ISP has sourced from other places. It is a very strong multinational company which is part shareholder with Arramara Teoranta. In the past Alginates used to seek their supplies and source raw materials of seaweed from many other countries, interests and takeovers. I understand ISP Alginates has bought the Norwegian seaweed industry which, in turn, has put one of its biggest competitors in the business out of the equation. It has such a monopoly, therefore, it makes matters difficult for the board.

As a former director who was appointed by a Fianna Fáil Government and served on the board for four or five years, our first duty was to build up the external sales of the company. We had many battles with our partners to try to ensure a degree of autonomy and a decision was made by the board. We built up its profits very substantially from our third party sales to the extent that we were able to approach the IDA. We were the first to build a new Arramara Teoranta venture in County Mayo. We had sales of something in the region of 5,000 tonnes per annum, of which between 1,500 and 2,000 tonnes were accounted for by third party sales. We continued this operation to the extent that at board meetings our partners used to be very annoyed that we would not give them a guarantee of supply at their contract price. We maintained competition which kept the company strong and built up opportunities.

I recall attending a joint Oireachtas committee meeting at which a commitment was given by the board, with the support of our partners, following a long discussion, teasing out and planning, to build a plant in County Mayo. We bought a site and received backing from the industry and the IDA. To put it in not too decent terms, we were shafted and thwarted at the joint committee by people who are still Members of both Houses. Arramara Teoranta's plans for development and the improvement of incomes on the western seaboard were thwarted by individuals both in this House and the Dáil. It is a disgrace that we have now been reduced to one milling unit in County Galway when our expansion plans extended to building a third plant.

During the last general election there was an announcement in Newport that a seaweed industry would be established which would provide 17 jobs. Where are they? What has happened to the development of our indigenous industry along the western seaboard? Many serious questions need to be asked. I welcome the Minister's investment and hands-on approach to send in consultants to look at the potential of the company.

Kerry Algae has developed an industry in the south. It is time we examined the issue with a view to developing the potential of the industry. We should decide how to do it, with whom to go into partnership and whether Arramara Teoranta should develop its own bio-industries from the alginate process. Has Kerry Algae the capacity to develop the alginate aspect of the business? Should we look for a partnership on that basis or should we try to get ISP to play a more significant part in the development of our own industry rather than thwarting the seaweed industry and its potential? It needs serious examination and proper plans and proposals need to be brought forward.

When we were building the third plant, the former Taoiseach, Deputy Albert Reynolds, was asked to raise the shareholding of Arramara Teoranta. In fairness to him, he was fast in agreeing to the proposal. It needed legislation and we are here today to look for an increase in the shareholding. I would like to see the increase on the basis that it gives the company the opportunity to develop its potential and recognises the importance of the industry to the people on the western seaboard.

County Mayo had a huge number of cutters but there are few of them left because the seaweed is not wanted except when Galway has none. The same applied when Donegal was working and Mayo cutters were not asked to cut unless Donegal was short. There is potential for a great industry and I ask the Minister to commit himself to an important national seaweed industry for the benefit of the people on the western seaboard. I support the Bill.

Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis na Seanadóirí as ucht an mhéid atá ráite acu. Níl aon dabht go bhfuil deacrachtaí faoi leith ag an tionscal feamainne. Is mar gheall ar na deacrachtaí sin go raibh orainn athstructúr a dhéanamh. Cuireann sé isteach go mór go raibh orm an monarcha sa Mhín Mhór a dhúnadh agus chuala mé caidé a dúirt Seanadóir Bonner ach ní bheadh aon comhlacht ann muna mbeadh an cinneadh sin déanta chomh sciopthaí agus a rinneadh.

Tá suim agam sa méid a dúirt an Seanadóir de Búrca. Beimid in ann níos mó airgid a thabhairt amach mar phraghas don fheamainn ach ní dóigh liom go mbeimid in ann deontais a thabhairt. Dúirt mé le cathaoirleach an bhóird go mbeinn sásta praghas níos airde a thabhairt do no daoine atá ag gearradh na feamainne.

Tá muid ag cur isteach níos mó teicneolaíochta sa tionscal. Tá beirt breise ceaptha againn atá ag obair le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta agus Bórd Iascaigh Mhara, i dteannta le hOllscoil na Gaillimhe, chun táirgí a fhorbairt sa dóigh is go mbeimid in ann luach níos airde a fháil ar son na dtáirgí atá á ndéanamh ag Arramara Teoranta.

Tá gach iarracht á dhéanamh againn anois go mbeimid in ann comhlacht príobháideach a thabhairt isteach agus an monarcha sa Mhín Mhór a athoscailt. Tá mé féin agus an tAire Stáit sa Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gaeltachta agus Oileán ag plé moltaí leis an údarás sa treo sin. Tá mé cinnte go mbeidh tionscal i nDún na nGall ach caithfimid na táirgí a dhéantar sa mhonarcha a athrú. Beimid in ann an méid feamainne atá á gearradh anois a mhéadú agus monarchán nua a chur isteach.

Glacaim go raibh an-iarracht déanta ag Condae Maigh Eo ach níor éirigh leis. Má bheimid in ann tionscal ceart a chur i bhfeidhm i gCill Chiaráin, níl aon dabht go mbeidh méadú ar an méid feamainne atá á gearradh i gCondae Maigh Eo. Leis an iarracht á dhéanamh le táirgí nua a chur ar fáil beidh seans ann a mhalartú sa chondae.

Is lá stairiúl é seo. Bunaíodh an comhlacht i 1947 agus ní raibh aon dul chun cinn déanta ó shin. Cuireadh isteach £43,000 – sin an limistéir a cuireadh ar an méid airgid a thig leis an Stát a chur isteach sa chomhlacht ansin. Seo an chéad uair a tháinig muid ar ais chuig an Oireachtas le hairgead breise a chur isteach. Tá muid ag cur €1.2 milliún inniu agus cuirfidh sin an-dul chun cinn don tionscal feamainne.

Ní aontaím leis an méid a dúradh faoi ISP Alginates. Tá suim againn sa tionscal agus dá mbeimis in ann dul ar aghaidh linn féin agus an monarcha sa Mhín Mhór a shabháilt, bheadh sin déanta againn. Ní raibh an dara rogha agam agus, de bharr sin, bhí orainné á dhúnadh. Tá súil agamsa go mbeidh tionscal feamainne ann i gcondae Dhún na nGall.

Tá mé buíoch díbh as ucht bhur dtacaíochta don Bhille seo. Rachaimid ar aghaidh anois chun cead pleanála a fháil agus méadú a dhéanamh i gCill Chiaráin.

Question put and agreed to.
Bill reported without recommendation and received for final consideration.
Question proposed: "That the Bill do now pass."

I appreciate what the Minister said as to why he cannot grant aid equipment for people on the west coast who are harvesting seaweed. I welcome the fact that he has said he will be able to do something regarding higher prices for the product. We also welcome the new technology which will allow new products to be developed and which will increase the by-product industry.

There are difficulties related to harvesting which the Minister of State has recognised. The boom of recent years has had an effect on harvester numbers because there are easier ways of making money than harvesting. It is critical that we maintain their number on the west coast. Senator Chambers alluded to the decrease in County Mayo in particular. Incentives will be required to get people back harvesting seaweed because it is not the most attractive of businesses. As I have said, many families have been reared and incomes supplemented by the harvesting of seaweed along the west coast. I welcome the Bill.

Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a thabhairt don Aire Stáit as ucht an Bille tábhachtach seo a thabhairt os comhair an Tí. Cé nach bhfuil mé sásta leis na hamharaí, aontaím leis gur Bille tábhachtach é agus molam go mór é.

Thagair an Seanadóir de Búrca do na deontaisí. Bhí an tuairim ann gur cheart do na conraitheoirí an bhí ag baint na feamainne athrú agus a chuid oibre a dhéanamh ar na báid. Ní fheicim cad é an dóigh gur féidir leo é sin a dhéanamh. Tá na daoine seo ag brath ar an gcóras leasadh shóisialta agus bhéadh deacracht millteanach acu dá ndéanfaidís sin.

Tá an-obair á dhéanamh ag an Aire Stáit ar son na ndaoine beaga atá ag saothrú thart fán gcósta. Aontaím le gach rud atá á dhéanamh aige, cé nach n-aontaím corr uair leis an dóigh ina bhfuil sé á dhéanamh. Glacaim leis na rudaí a dúirt sé mar gheall ar an ISP Alginates, ach tá mo thuairim féin agam fá dtaobh daoibh. Ní fheicim cén dóigh a bhfuil dóchas acu maidir leis an tionscail sa tír seo nuair a bhí ar an Stát 100% den airgead breise a chur ar fáil.

Question put and agreed to.
Sitting suspended at 1.05 p.m. and resumed at 2 p.m.
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