§ Mr. BYRNEasked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been drawn to the continuous opposition of the Dublin Port and Docks Board to the extension of shipbuilding in Dublin; if he is aware that two years ago a Dublin shipbuilding firm applied to the port board for land to extend their works; and if, having regard to the extraordinary action of the board in refusing ground for this work of the most urgent national importance, he will acquire the ground, under the Acquisition of Land Act, for shipbuilding, to be carried out by the Government or Dublin shipbuilders?
Mr. ROBERTSMy attention has been called to the application of the Dublin 651W Dockyard Company to the Dublin Port and Docks Board for a lease of certain land for the purposes of an extension of their shipbuilding yard. The Board of Trade have no power to acquire land under the Defence of the Realm (Acquisition of Land) Act, 1916, but I am consulting the Admiralty in the matter, and will I communicate with the hon. Member in due course.