Vol. 481 No. 5
55 Mr. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the contacts, if any, she will be making with a company (details supplied) in the near future regarding the loss of 1,000 promised jobs in Cork; and the plans, if any, she has to seek replacement industries. [16726/97]
I met senior executives of Seagate in the course of an industrial development visit to the United States in August and indicated my support for the existing Seagate operation in Clonmel and the proposed project in Cork. More recently, I had a detailed conversation with the executive vice president of Seagate on Friday, 3 October 1997 to discuss the announcement by the company of a postponement of its plans for Ringaskiddy, Cork. Senior executives from IDA Ireland also visited the company on Monday, 6 October 1997 to discuss the situation further.
I have been assured by the company that the postponement of the project is to review changes in the market for the company's product. Given the significnt investment, the company is reviewing the situation before proceeding to ensure that the timing of the launch of the product to the market is right.
As this is merely a postponement of the company's plans, it would not be appropriate to seek a replacement industry for the area.
I will continue to keep in touch with the company in relation to the timing of this project.
