Finian McGrath
Question:434 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the action he will take on the recent 300 job losses at a company (details supplied) [18384/12]
View answerWednesday, 18 April 2012
Questions (430, 431, 432, 433, 434, 435, 436)
Joanna Tuffy
Question:451 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps that have been taken to persuade a company (details supplied) to reverse a recent decision to move over 300 jobs currently engaged in providing customer care services at Leopardstown, County Dublin, and Dundalk, County Louth, to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18720/12]
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Gerry Adams
Question:452 Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he has been in touch with a company (details supplied) regarding its plans to move jobs from Dublin and Dundalk, County Louth, to Newry, Northern Ireland; if he has sought assurances that any employees who do not wish to move to Newry will receive their full redundancy entitlements; if he has sought further assurances from the company about its commitment to the jobs remaining in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18721/12]
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Willie O'Dea
Question:453 Deputy Willie O’Dea asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the contacts he has had with a company (details supplied) regarding their plans for jobs in Dundalk, County Louth, and Leopardstown, Dublin; if he has asked the company to consider job retention in those parts of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18722/12]
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Terence Flanagan
Question:457 Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding plans to export jobs (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18819/12]
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Brendan Smith
Question:470 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will ensure that every effort is made by his Department and the relevant State agencies to retain jobs in Dublin and Dundalk, County Louth, with a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19323/12]
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Michael Healy-Rae
Question:473 Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding the plans of a company (details supplied) to export more than 300 jobs to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19424/12]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 434, 451 to 453, inclusive, 457, 470 and 473 together.
Vodafone Ireland announced on 22 March last that it had completed a review of the company's current contracted mobile call centre operations. The company has stated that, following this review, it will be adopting a new model for its mobile customer care, resulting in a move to a new provider, Teleperformance. I have been assured that the transfer of service will observe the Transfer of Undertakings — Protection of Employees (European Communities (Protection of Employees on Transfer of Undertakings) Regulations 2003) Regulations.
I met with a delegation from the Communications Workers' Union and Oireachtas members, on 5 April last, and discussed the effects of the proposed transfer on the employees concerned and the possible longer term implications of the move for the sector and for the regions in question.
Vodafone Ireland and Rigney Dolphin, the current provider of the contracted service, have entered a six-week consultation process with employee representatives prior to the new arrangements taking effect. Therefore, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on the matter at this point. I should point out, however, that the State's industrial relations machinery, including the Labour Relations Commission, is available to assist in this process, if requested.
While the situation that has arisen on this occasion is regrettable, it is nevertheless reflective of the competitive forces that affect our economy and sector concerned. Notwithstanding this, other positive moves such as the announcement last month by PayPal of the creation of 1,000 jobs in Dundalk, which is being supported by the Government through IDA Ireland, is a very encouraging sign for the Louth region.
The issue of statutory redundancy payments is a matter for the Minister for Social Protection.