asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism if he will ask the IDA to proceed immediately with plans to acquire a sizeable site at Portlaw, County Waterford, for the erection of an advance factory there.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - County Waterford Industrial Development .
4.
: I am informed by the Industrial Development Authority that they have no plans at present to acquire a site at Portlaw, County Waterford, for the erection of an advance factory there.
Portlaw is in the catchment areas of both Waterford city, for which a 40,000 sq. ft. advance factory is planned, and Carrick-on-Suir where a 24,000 sq. ft. advance factory has recently been completed.
5.
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism if he will make a statement on the future of a company (details supplied) in Portlaw and Dungarvan, County Waterford; and if he is aware of the public concern about the future of its factories.
6.
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism if his attention has been drawn to the continuing serious problems confronting the Irish tannery industry and the possibility of lay-offs at the leather factories at Dungarvan and Portlaw, County Waterford; and the action he proposes to take to assist the industry in its present difficulties.
: With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 and 6 together.
I recognise that in view of the difficult circumstances which in recent years have confronted the tanning industry in Western Europe generally, a degree of public concern as to the future of the two factories mentioned could arise. Responsibility for the operation and well-being of the factories of the company concerned is primarily a matter for the directors and management. My Department, along with State agencies such as the Industrial Development Authority and Fóir Teoranta, are maintaining continuous contact with the company and are endeavouring to ensure that appropriate action is taken to promote continued operation and the maintenance of employment at the highest possible level.
: Are steps being taken to reduce, if not to end, the import of leather goods, particularly shoes, from third countries since such imports are the root cause of the problem we are talking of?
: So far as the company in question is concerned the main problem is the UK market to which the bulk of the company's sales has always gone. The greater part of third-country leather coming onto the UK market is from Brazil. I understand that the Commission have taken some steps to discourage the export of cheap leather from Brazil into the Community. The matter is not one on which we can take action unilaterally apart from making our views known to the Commission, in so far as these affect the UK market.
: In referring to third-country imports, I am talking in the context of leather goods imported into the EEC generally and that, of course, includes the UK. I would not agree that the present problem is being created totally by leather imports from Brazil. Rather, it is due largely to the importation of finished leather goods, including shoes, from the Far East in general and particularly from such countries as Taiwan and Hong Kong. I should like the Minister to take steps to stop these imports.
: There are controls and quotas imposed by the commission in respect of footwear from many low-cost Far Eastern countries. This is a matter that the Commission keep under review continuously. So far as our markets are concerned, more than 80 per cent of the imports are from the UK.
: In view of the continuing adverse trading situation of the company in question and having regard to their being subject to a situation of fluctuations in prosperity, would the Minister assure us that the relevant State agencies, particularly Fóir Teoranta, will continue to support the company during these bad times so that their survival will be ensured and that employment there will be protected?
: A great deal of support has been given in the past to the company by the agencies concerned and I am confident that that support will continue to be given in so far as possible.
7.
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism if he will ask the IDA to proceed forthwith to erect a 27,000 square feet advance factory at their site in Cappoquin, County Waterford in view of the closure of the Cappoquin bacon factory with the loss of 160 jobs; and if he will also make every possible effort to see that an alternative meat-processing plant is located in the area.
8.
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism if he is aware of the need for industry in west Waterford in view of the closure of the bacon factory in Cappoquin; and the steps he is taking to get replacement industries for the area.
: With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 8 together.
I am informed by the Industrial Development Authority that Cappoquin is among the locations being considered for an advance factory under their next programme for advance factory construction, which is at present being drawn up.
The IDA are giving priority to the attraction of new industry for Cappoquin and are also promoting the town for a suitable meat-processing plant. Apart from Cappoquin, other areas in west Waterford are also being actively promoted for new industry.
: I am sure that officials of the Minister's Department whom we have met have conveyed our concern to the Minister in this matter but I should like an assurance that he will take a personal interest in the promotion of such an advance factory and in the acquiring of an alternative meat-processing industry for the area?
: I will take a personal interest in the matter. I am aware of the circumstances but I am aware also of what is being done and I think there will be an improvement in the situation.
: Having regard to the substantial unemployment that has resulted from the closing of the factory and having regard also to the wide area that was served by the factory in terms of employment in west Waterford, can the Minister give us an assurance that the area will now be designated a priority area for industry so far as both the IDA and the Department of Agriculture are concerned?
: I cannot speak for the Department of Agriculture but the IDA are conscious of the needs of the area and are doing all they can to meet those needs as rapidly as possible.
: Is there any possibility of the area being designated for higher grant-aid purposes?
: There is no such possibility.