asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if an offer has been received from an Irish company to cut and bend steel for Killybegs boatyard; if so, if the offer has been accepted, and its effect on the future of the boatyard.

An Irish company suggested recently to An Bord Iascaigh Mhara that the company might import steel hulls in completed knocked down form for supply to BIM and other Irish boatyards. The suggestion was not taken up by the board because they had decided against going into steel production.