Meeting with soft drinks association
The Minister said the Soft Drink & Beer Bottlers' Association had requested a meeting, which was postponed because of his participation in British-Irish talks, and would be rescheduled. Barry said the association had made six requests and warned that budget taxation endangered 300 jobs; the Minister said he had agreed to meet them before the question was tabled and that he could not receive every requesting group, denying that he considered the industry irrelevant.
asked the Minister for Finance if the Irish Soft Drinks Association have requested a meeting with him; and, if so, when that meeting will take place.
Comment on this
The Soft Drink & Beer Bottlers' Association Limited have requested a meeting, and one will be arranged at the earliest opportunity.
I had arranged to meet the Soft Drink & Beer Bottlers' Association Limited on Monday December 8 but it had to be cancelled due to my participation in the talks between the British and Irish Governments. An alternative date will be arranged as soon as possible.
Comment on this
I do not have details but I can tell the Deputy that a number of groups, a considerable number, going into hundreds, made requests.
Comment on this
Would the Minister agree that this association made six requests for a meeting and that it was only when we put down the question that a request was replied to and then the meeting was cancelled. The reason why this association requested a meeting is that 300 jobs in the industry have been endangered by the penal taxes on soft drinks in the last budget.
Comment on this
I had communicated to them well in advance of the arrangements for a meeting between the Irish and British Governments that I was prepared to meet them on that date. The meeting was not arranged as a response to the Deputy's question.
Comment on this
Will the Minister agree that they made six different requests, the reason being that 300 jobs in the industry had become endangered because of the penal taxation imposed in the 1980 budget?
Comment on this
As I have said, several small groups, hundreds of them, asked to have deputations received. It would not have been physically possible for the Minister to meet all such groups—it would be an exception to the rule.
Comment on this
So that is the excuse. Is the Minister describing as small and irrelevant an industry in which 300 jobs are in danger?
Comment on this
I do not think anything I have said could be interpreted as dismissing them as being irrelevant.