§ Mr. BYRNEasked the President of the Board of Trade if any agreement has been arrived at with the Admiralty as to the proceedings to be taken against the Dublin Port and Docks Board for their failure to provide sites for an extension of Dublin shipbuilding; if he will say whether it is proposed under the Defence of the Realm Act to prosecute the persons who by their votes prevent shipbuilding facilities being granted to those prepared to do this most urgent work of national importance; and if he will say if the Government approve of the action of the Dublin Port and Docks Board In delaying-shipbuilding?
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§ Dr. MACNAMARAMy right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The Board of Trade has been in consultation with us as a result of the question put by the hon. Gentleman to that Department on 14th February. So far as we are concerned, the Dublin Dockyard Company has not done any building for us for some years. It therefore appears to us that the course of action to be followed should be determined by the Shipping Controller, and we have informed the Board of Trade to that effect.