Vol. 345 No. 11
andMr. Wyse asked the Minister for Industry and Energy if and when he will meet the Cork Ford trade union group to discuss the future of the plant there; and the steps being taken by him and the Government to guarantee the future of the workforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter to allay public concern on the future of the plant.
310.
andMr. Wyse asked the Minister for Industry and Energy if and when he will meet the Ford management in Cork to discuss the future of the plant there and the question of any Government assistance necessary to guarantee future employment there.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 309 and 310 together.
The Minister of State, Mr. Eddie Collins, within whose area of responsibility this matter lies, has had several contacts with Ford's management over the past months concerning the future of the Ford plant in Cork. The Minister of State again met Mr. Hayes, the chairman and managing director of the company, on 14 October last to discuss the situation. The Minister of State has also indicated that he is prepared to agree to the trade unions' request that he participate in a tripartite meeting with representatives of Ford management, unions and ICTU. A date for such a meeting is being arranged and I have asked Mr. Collins to report back to me on the outcome of this meeting.
