asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if he will establish a wool cleaning and processing plant in this country.

I am not aware of any proposal for the establishment of a wool cleaning and processing plant in this country. However, should a suitable proposal emerge it would be considered favourably by the appropriate State agencies. I understand that the possibility of setting up such a plant is at present being examined by Gaeltarra Éireann.

Is it the case that Irish wool has to be exported in a raw form and that we lose a lot of added value simply because we do not have such plant?

That is so, but apparently buyers abroad want it in that form. The Deputy may be aware that a private firm opened a scouring plant last year as a commercial operation but due to the lack of demand for the facility it was closed down within the year.

Would the Minister not agree that buyers abroad would want it in that form because it enables them to make more profits at our expense?

If they do not get Irish wool in the form in which they want it they will go elsewhere.

We can produce the finished product, export it and make all the profits. That should be our objective, not providing raw materials for other countries.