Vol. 395 No. 8
9 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the contacts he had with the management of Nixdorf regarding the proposal to close their Bray plant; the progress which has been made in regard to the search for a company to take over the plant as a going concern; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Since it became known in January that it was proposed to close the Bray plant, I have had contact with the management of Nixdorf in Bray and with the parent company in Germany. As a result of intensive lobbying by me and by other interested parties, the original decision by Nixdorf to close the plant immediately has been changed to allow time for the IDA and Nixdorf to work together to find a replacement industry. In the meantime, Nixdorf is to retain the majority of its workforce to maintain a viable operation that would be attractive to potential investors. However, 100 of the employees are being made redundant now because current requirements cannot support the full workforce.
I am confident that a replacement industry will be found. However, the IDA's contacts with possible investors are part of their day-to-day business and not a matter on which I can comment. Furthermore, the confidentiality of those contacts is important for their success.
Is the Minister concerned that the 100 redundancies which are due to take place in the near future will only commit the company to remain in Bray until July? Does the Minister think the IDA will be in a position to obtain a replacement industry within that period of time? Can he indicate at this stage how many interests the IDA or his Department have spoken to in connection with the matter?
Unfortunately, I cannot be certain about a matter such as this but I would be very confident that a substitute industry would be found for this plant between now and July. Several interests have been spoken to and up to a few days ago two of the companies who were contacted visited and examined the plant and, I think, were favourably impressed with it.
Would the Minister not agree that the situation in Nixdorf is another example of the total failure of the IDA's policy in attracting multi-nationals to this country, the robber barons of the 20th century?
No.
