Written Answers. - Job Losses.
Eamon Gilmore
Question:
135
Mr. Gilmore
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
the number of redundancies or job losses notified to her Department during 2001; the number of anticipated job losses reported to her Department to date in 2002; the equivalent figure for the same period in 2001; the steps being taken to deal with the continuing serious level of job losses; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[13627/02]
The number of redundancies notified to my Department in 2001 was 19,828. In the first five months of 2002 a total of 11,273 redundancies were notified.
As regards anticipated job losses, one indicator of this is the number of collective redundancies notified to my Department under the Protection of Employment Act, 1977. These are the numbers of employees that companies have indicated that they propose to make redundant after the statutory minimum notification period of 30 days. A total of 5,104 collective redundancies were notified in the first five months of 2002. The equivalent figure for the same period in 2001 was 4,429.
The Irish economy continues to be affected by the deterioration in the international economic environment over the past year which resulted in a weakening of demand growth in our main trading partners. The adverse impact of this was felt especially in sectors which are significant for us, such as the information, communication and technology sector. The signs of recovery in the marketplace, particularly in the US, are a welcome development but industry here will continue to face strong competitive pressures.
The Government is committed to encouraging and supporting foreign-owned and indigenous companies to develop higher productivity and knowledge-based activities, which would be likely to be retained in periods of global rationalisation.
The agencies of my Department continue to work closely with foreign owned and indigenous companies in enhancing competitiveness and in addressing difficulties arising from job losses, including assistance from FÁS in securing alternative employment or training for workers affected.
In responding to the current difficult environment, IDA Ireland is focusing, in particular, on achieving a more even geographical distribution of new greenfield investment, increasing the quality of foreign direct investment in existing and new enterprises, and promoting developments in key areas such as infrastructure and skills in order to enhance the business environment.
Enterprise Ireland is implementing measures aimed especially at the retention and the creation of employment in existing indigenous companies, including enhancing the innovation capability through support of research and development in companies and third level institutions, market development supports, the provision of venture capital funds and job creation by entrepreneurs in high potential start-up projects.
The National Development Plan 2000-2006 is putting in place the infrastructure required to support enterprise development. Considerable investment in infrastructure in key areas has already taken place, for example, roads, public transport, telecommunications, environment services and energy. This programme of investment is essential to the creation of a competitive environment favourable to the development of enterprise and employment.
