I wish to share my time with Deputies Máirín Quill and Mary O'Rourke.
Adjournment Debate. - Threatened Job Losses at Cork Plant.
Is that agreed? Agreed.
This is the third time the situation in the Sunbeam plant has been raised on the Adjournment. When we outlined it on 16 February and 7 March last, the Minister assured us that everything possible was being done by him, his Department and the relevant State agencies to retain the jobs in this plant. On 16 February the Minister said that consultants had been commissioned to examine the future options at the plant.
In spite of the loss of 108 jobs during the intervening period Opposition Deputies have endeavoured to be as constructive as possible in regard to this issue. There were further job losses a month ago and the situation is getting worse. I read that Forbairt is confident solutions will be found to this problem. While I hope it is proven correct, yesterday afternoon 175 workers in the plant were advised that they were being put on protective notice. These workers are critical of their public representatives. Deputy Quill and I decided to adopt a responsible approach to this problem so that we could not be accused of using it to gain publicity. The workers have criticised us and the Government for not highlighting the problems at the plant.
The assurances given by the Minister have amounted to nothing. More workers have been laid off and unless a package can be put together within the next two or three weeks the remaining workers will lose their jobs. This issue is of relevance not only to the 300 workers in the Sunbeam plant but also to their families. In some cases the only breadwinner in a household is the mother who is working in the plant. The Government has made no public response to this issue and, unlike other disputes, the Minister has not appeared on television to discuss it. I wish the workers involved in those disputes the best of luck, but the workers in Cork believe that the Government is not interested in their problem.
I thank Deputy Wallace for sharing his time with me. Since the start of the year the future of the Sunbeam plant in Cork has been riven by uncertainty. Last March 108 good jobs were lost in the knitwear division. At that time we were told that replacement jobs would be found but this has not happened. This uncertainty is having a devastating effect on the workforce, their families and the community. We have now heard that a further 175 jobs in another division of the same industry are at risk. All we have had from the Government during the intervening time is a deafening silence. Even when the matter is down to the wire neither the Minister nor his Minister of State has seen fit to come into the House to reply to this matter. This speaks volumes about the Government's interest in the future of the Sunbeam plant.
If the Government adopted a hands on approach to this issue it would inspire some confidence in prospective investors who might create jobs and save the industry. The Government's silence and indifference have not done anything to create the kind of confidence which would attract an investor, thereby saving the plant and jobs. The Minister should show some interest in this issue, adopt a hands on approach and take all the steps open to him to ensure the jobs in this crucial industry in the north side of Cork city are saved.
The Minister for Enterprise and Employment and his Minister of State have failed to fulfil the tasks given to them under their remit. I strongly condemn the laissez-faire approach taken by them to retain jobs in this vital industry. The Government is more interested in chasing after promised jobs than in retaining existing jobs. Well placed people have told me that there is now a clear decision to wind down the textile industry. This decision may not be written down but it has been taken. I come from a textile background which, unfortunately, was wound down many years ago when synthetics became the vogue. If that industry had remained in production its time would have come around again.
I urge the Government to give further consideration to the Sunbeam plant which has a motivated workforce. Despite fine promises from the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the Silverlea Plant in Athlone was closed. I ask the Government to ensure that the Sunbeam plant does not go the same way. I also ask the Minister of State, Deputy Fitzgerald, to ensure that attention is given to this industry. Even though the Government is lurching from crisis to crisis, it is not too late to save this plant.
The problems in Sunbeam are very serious. Yesterday the board issued two weeks' protective notice to 170 employees. The Government is extremely conscious of the threat this poses to the livelihoods of the workers. The concerns expressed by the Deputies about the workers and their families are shared by the Government and it is doing its best to ensure the company is rescued.
During the past two months Forbairt has made every possible effort to secure the future of existing operations and discussions have been held with a number of potential investors. Discussions are continuing on one particular proposal and a business plan which will be crucial to the resolution of this matter is expected to be submitted to Forbairt for consideration within the next week. I am anxious to ensure that the negotiations taking place between all the parties involved are facilitated in every way and are afforded every opportunity to be brought to a conclusion.
Deputies opposite can be assured that no effort will be spared in the Department of Enterprise and Employment to ensure, with the assistance of Forbairt, that if there is a viable business proposal every assistance will be given in an effort to save these jobs.