Trevor Sargent
Ceist:57 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will report on her recent meetings with management of a company (details supplied) in County Donegal. [19954/98]
Written Answers. - Employment Protection.
Dinny McGinley
Ceist:58 Mr. McGinley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current information regarding jobs at a company (details supplied) in County Donegal; the communication, if any, she has had with the United States management of the company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21720/98]
Gerry Reynolds
Ceist:100 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current information regarding jobs at a company (details supplied) in County Donegal; the communication, if any, she has had with the United States management of the company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21719/98]
Nora Owen
Ceist:131 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current information regarding jobs at a company (details supplied) in County Donegal; the communication, if any, she has had with the United States management of the company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21838/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 57, 58, 100 and 131 together.
The company was scheduled to make an announcement on 14 September 1998 about plans for its operations in Donegal. This decision was deferred pending further review by Fruit of the Loom of its plans.
Representatives from IDA Ireland met recently with senior executives from European Operations of Fruit of the Loom to discuss the company's immediate plans for the Irish operation, and to clarify any matters relating to IDA Ireland. The company confirmed that there will be no redundancies between now and the end of 1998. The IDA has written to the company in relation to grant liability issues and I expect further meetings to be scheduled in the short-term between IDA and the company with a view to reaching a satisfactory outcome to the situation. Clearly my overriding concern continues to be to maximise the number of jobs in Fruit of the Loom in Donegal.
On 16 September 1998, I launched the Donegal Employment Initiative. This group was established to offset and compensate for the immediate risk of job losses at the Fruit of the Loom plants in Donegal.
This initiative is focusing immediate priority attention on Donegal as a prime, competitive and attractive location for job creating investment. The work of the Task Force is important in accelerating the attraction of additional industry and business to Donegal.
To date, the Task Force has had two meetings and is exploring a number of suggestions in relation to infrastructure i.e. telecommunications, electricity and air access. The Task Force model has proved effective in other major closure situations, for example in Clonmel and Killala, and I am hopeful that the endeavours of the Donegal Employment Initiative will have similar positive results.