Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Tuesday, 25 September 2012
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
Irish Exports: Discussion with Irish Exporters Association
3:35 pm
Mr. Bernard Coyle:
Chairman, can I finish with something that is slightly off-centre? There is feedback from a number of companies in the enterprise sector. Although we will not go into it in detail, it is allied to the issue of cash for gold and the robberies taking place around the country. People are flagging that companies and industrial premises are being targeted in the same way as private houses were being targeted for jewellery. The idea is to rob the stainless steel, copper, aluminium and so forth. This will have a huge effect on industry if it becomes widespread. Northern Ireland and the UK are dealing with these issues. If one goes to a smelter's, one must have photographic identification, one's number plate is noted and one is paid by cheque. We are a little concerned that the Government has not moved on any of those issues. The pilferage, for want of a better term, is still widespread but is now moving up a gear and affecting factories and companies. There is a downside to that. Many companies, by their nature and following encouragement down the years, including the fact that entrepreneurs have wanted to bring companies to their native areas, can be in isolated locations. If the owners arrive on a Monday morning and find that someone has been in the premises with saws and sawed up the stainless steel or other material, production will stop. The issue is only now becoming quite apparent.