CONTINUING opposition by British Steel to the acquisition by the Ispat Group of the Irish Steel plant in Cork would not prevent the deal from going ahead, the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Mr Richard Bruton, has said.

Speaking in Cork after touring the plant yesterday, Mr Bruton said that last Tuesday the Cabinet had approved a draft Bill enabling legislation to be brought forward confirming the Government's sale of all its shares in Irish Steel.

Ispat, the Indian steel manufacturer, had expressed its confidence in the Cork steel plant by investing £5 million in working capital and about £25 million in capital works and fixed assets over a six year period.

The State, he added, had made a £20 million cash contribution and had written off a Government loan of £17 million. Had the deal not gone ahead, he added, saving Irish Steel would have cost the Exchequer more than double this amount, and there was no guarantee that Ireland's European partners would have agreed to such a move.