Vol. 493 No. 3
11 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will report on her meeting with the management of the Fruit of the Loom company in the United States of America; the guarantees, if any, she received that there would be no job losses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15728/98]
29 Mr. McGinley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will report on her meeting with the management of the Fruit of the Loom company in the United States of America; the guarantees, if any, she received that there would be no job losses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15727/98]
31 Mr. Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will report on her meeting with the management of the Fruit of the Loom Company in the United States of America; the guarantees, if any, she received that there would be no job losses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15729/98]
89 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will report on her meeting with the management of the Fruit of the Loom in the United States of America; the guarantees, if any, she received that there would be no job losses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15749/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 29, 31 and 89 together.
I met with Mr. William Farley, the chairman and chief executive officer of Fruit of the Loom Inc., on 23 June 1998 in Chicago to discuss the US company's plans for its Irish operations. This was my fourth meeting with him since taking office last year.
The clothing and textiles industries worldwide are experiencing severe competitive pressures. Change is constant and in that environment there are no guarantees; that is the reality of the business world. The clothing industry in western Europe has been declining in the face of competition from low-cost countries. This, coupled with liberalising world trade, has resulted in clothing companies in Europe and the US to seek cheaper sources of production. For example, Fruit of the Loom has been engaged in the retrenchment of its US-based operatives for some time.
