Vol. 407 No. 8
53 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline the role the IDA have played in the talks that have taken place about the merger of Mitchelstown and Ballyclough Co-Operatives; and his views on the 80 job losses at Ballyclough Creamery, County Cork.
The IDA strategy for the Food and Drink Industry 1988-1992, through which Government policy for the industry is being implemented, states quite clearly in the chapter on the dairy sector that the Authority will actively promote and support restructuring of the Irish dairy industry through amalgamations, mergers and acquisitions. In pursuance of this policy, which is essential to secure the long term future of the dairy industry in increasingly difficult and competitive international markets, the IDA have been active in promoting the restructuring of the industry; they have welcomed and supported the merger of Mitchelstown and Ballyclough Co-operatives and are now working closely with Dairygold as regards its future development.
While the loss of jobs in any sector is regretted it must be recognised that without the restructuring which is now taking place the entire dairy industry and all of the jobs in it would be at risk.
