Dáil Éireann - Volume 77 - 18 October, 1939

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Dockyards.

Risteárd Ua Maolchatha asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce [636] if he will state whether he has taken, or intends to take, any steps to assist or to secure that orders for the building of new trawlers either for the Irish or the British trawling companies will be placed with Dublin ship builders.

Mr. MacEntee: I have given instructions in my Department to have the question of opening the Dublin Dockyard explored, but I would remind the Deputy that as the failure of previous efforts in this direction indicates, the matter is one of great difficulty.

General Mulcahy: Is the Minister aware that during the last war over 3,000 persons were engaged on work of ship building and ship repairing here in the city?

Mr. MacEntee: I understand that was the case.

General Mulcahy: And does the Minister think that the circumstances of to-day are not such as to offer opportunities of restarting employment in the shipyards, at any rate during the period of the war?

Mr. MacEntee: There would seem to be an opportunity for reopening the dockyards.