andMr. N. Treacy asked the Minister for Agriculture the proposals he has made to the Government to maintain sugar beet processing and ancillary employment in the Tuam sugar factory, County Galway; and when the Government will make a decision on the matter.

The Government will shortly consider the future of the Tuam factory in the context of the sugar company's overall rationalisation plan.

Can the Minister tell us what the proposals were and when will the proposals be announced by the Minister?

The proposals are before the Government. They are confidential at the moment.

Does the Minister not know that the report has been with the Government since June? Why is there such a delay? Can he assure us that a decision will be made to maintain the Tuam sugar factory?

Because of the super-levy proposals and other problems this matter only goes before the Government now. The Deputy will have it within the next week.

When will a decision be made about the Tuam factory?

Within the next week.

This will be one hell of a week.

21.

asked the Minister for Agriculture the action he is taking to protect the Irish sugar and sugar beet industry from the proposed imports by four Irish confectionery companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

As imports of sugar cannot be prohibited or restricted, the threat posed by them can only be countered by ensuring that the sugar industry here achieves the highest level of efficiency. On several occasions recently I have emphasised that if the industry is to survive it must be competitive. This is one of the factors which the Government will have in mind in their consideration of the rationalisation plan submitted by the sugar company.

The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper. Deputy Tunney has applied for and been given permission to raise a Private Notice Question with the Minister for the Environment.