asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the total number and extent of grants given to a firm (name supplied).

36.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce why a recent application from a firm (name supplied) for a grant was refused.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 36 together.

No grants have been made by An Foras Tionscal to the firm named. I understand that the reasons why an application from this firm was refused by An Foras Tionscal were given to the firm. I do not think it desirable that such information should be published.

Will the Minister state why this cannot be made available? The company was not informed of the reason.

The secretary of the company was told personally and I did not say the information could not be made available but that it is undesirable that it should be published.

Is the Minister aware that at the annual general meeting, the chairman of the company stated that no reason was given for the refusal?

The reasons given were available to me and they were made known personally to the secretary.

The chairman of the company said that no reason was given by the Department or by An Foras Tionscal for the refusal. He made that statement.

I am not responsible for the statement of the chairman but An Foras Tionscal tell me that the reasons for the refusal were given to the secretary personally, and I have a copy of the reasons given to him.

If the decision was made in writing, surely the reasons should be stated in writing?

I did not say they were not in writing; I said they were given personally to the secretary, and whether in writing or not, the allegation was that no reason was given in any form.

Does the Minister mean this reason was given to the secretary in person, acting on behalf of the company?

It was given direct to the secretary and not sent through any intermediary.

Is it not a fact that this is an Irish company——

That would not explain the statement.

It might explain the fact that we are so willing to give grants to foreign companies that when an Irish company is in need of a grant, it is refused.

No, that is quite wrong. There were very sound reasons which I am sure every member of the House would support.

If they knew them.

Technical assistance grants have been sanctioned by my Department for this company. They have been offered assistance by way of grants but a grant from An Foras Tionscal was not approved for a very good reason.

No Irish need apply.

They have had technical assistance grants approved by my Department and they were as Irish for that purpose as for any other.

If they brought a Chinaman along——

That is quite wrong.

Would the Minister give me the reason?

I do not think it desirable.