Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 21 Mar 2002

Vol. 550 No. 5

Written Answers. - Job Losses.

Michael Bell

Question:

50 Mr. Bell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her plans to review the procedures in place within her Department for identifying jobs at risk in view of the huge loss of jobs over recent months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9459/02]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney):

My Department co-ordinates and oversees the early warning system for companies in difficulty. Apart from formal notification procedures under the Protection of Employment Acts and the Redundancy Payments Acts, the early warning system is operated through my Department in co-operation with the State development agencies, which notify it of firms experiencing difficulty, including potential job losses. The procedures for identifying jobs at risk are monitored on an ongoing basis with a view to ensuring that the system is operating as effectively as possible.

The aim is to ensure, as far as possible, that information is available on companies in difficulty, and to enable the agencies to assess what, if any, supportive action might be appropriate. The effectiveness of the early warning system depends on the willingness of firms to inform the agencies of their difficulties. However, despite the best endeavours of the Department and the State agencies, responsibility in the final analysis for decisions on employment rests with the firms themselves.