asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy the action that it is proposed to take to rescue the Van Hool McArdle coach-building industry at Inchicore, Dublin and to safeguard its 300 employees' jobs.

30.

asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if he will make a statement on the closure of Van Hool McArdle, coach-builders, Inchicore, Dublin; the steps that are being taken to save the jobs of the men involved; and if the Government will consider renationalising the company.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 30 together.

I refer the Deputies to the statement made by the Minister for Labour in the course of the adjournment debate on this matter on 2 February. A feature of this matter is that it is a commercial dispute between two independent entities who had entered into a contract with each other. This dispute has been referred to arbitration because the parties concerned did not find it possible to resolve it otherwise. I have made it clear that if the parties feel that some other solution is possible, I would be prepared to do what I can to help them to reach agreement. However, I am not in a position to impose a settlement.

So far as the employment aspect is concerned I am informed that CIE are prepared, if the Van Hool McArdle enterprise closes permanently, to offer employment not only to the workers whom they have an obligation to take back but also to as many of the remaining workers as offer their services to the company and are found to be suitable. I understand that CIE are negotiating with other interests for the establishment of a bus-building enterprise in Dublin and the question of renationalisation may not, therefore, arise.

Is the Minister aware that the 300 redundancies announced last week are costing the State a great deal of money and that the State could be saved this expenditure if the Minister intervened now to have the dispute settled?

I have indicated that if it is the opinion of the parties concerned that some solution is possible, I would be prepared to do everything in my power to help them reach an agreement. I am aware of the cost involved so far as the State is concerned.

I am anxious that this will not be another Ferenka situation.

Is this a question?

It is my opinion that the matter is capable of being resolved but I would ask for an assurance that if the difference between CIE and Van Hool McArdle is not settled, CIE would take over again the building of buses, an activity that they gave to this company in 1973.

That is a separate question.

Córas Iompair Éireann are negotiating with other interests for the establishment of a bus-building enterprise. Therefore, the question of renationalisation may not arise.

The Minister has said that CIE are prepared to offer alternative employment to the employees of Van Hool McArdle, but will the jobs offered be as bus drivers rather than coach builders?

I could not answer that, but as I have said CIE would be prepared to offer them alternative employment.

I am calling the next question.

Is the Minister aware of newspaper reports which suggest that the coach builders will be offered jobs as bus drivers, a situation that would lead to a loss of the coach-building skill so that eventually we might find it necessary to import buses from abroad?

I am not so aware.

The Minister has indicated that this whole question could be resolved by way of current negotiations with other interests. Is he prepared to give further details in this regard?

Not at this stage.