asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that the directors of the Bandon Distillery, Co. Cork, propose to dispose of the plant as scrap, and whether, in view of the fact that the equipment is valuable and modern, and that the industry is one of the few remaining in Bandon, he is prepared to use the office of his Department towards securing the sale of the distillery as a going concern, or otherwise, towards saving the industry and the few remaining employees from starvation.

I have not been made aware by the directors of the Bandon Distillery that they propose to dispose of their plant as scrap. If my Department is approached in the matter such assistance as is in its power will be given.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary take this question as an intimation of the need for the intervention of his Department?

I should require a formal application from the directors.

If the Parliamentary Secretary is informed that the directors have not moved in this matter, but simply proceeded to carry out their own plans for the total scrapping of the plant, is not that a sufficiently serious intimation of the position, because that is the fact?

I shall be glad to have from the Deputy some definite proposal of what he has in mind as to what might be done, I shall give it very careful consideration, and my Department will give every assistance.