It looks as if the bad old days of company closures are back with a bang. I have read of many such closures around the country over the past six or 12 months and felt that the Celtic tiger was faltering in its gallop. Now that the bad results have hit close to home in Bandon, I realise that the Celtic tiger has become lame and has run out of steam. It is really only when a closure of that order hits close to home that one fully appreciates its devastating consequences.
The closure of the Alcatel Software Centre in Bandon is a bad blow for the country because it was a unique software centre. It is a major disaster for the Bandon area. A total of 75 jobs have been lost. These are not ordinary jobs, but highly-skilled jobs in software engineering. This is a huge blow to the local economy in Bandon. On the day these jobs were lost, 15 more were lost in Shannon, and it was announced that 200 Esat workers would be laid off around the country. My particular concern is for my own area, Bandon. What we are losing there is a skilled workforce of software engineers. I do not want to see that skilled workforce scattered.
There are two possibilities. The first is the introduction of a project to absorb that highly-skilled workforce. I have already spoken to the IDA about that. I have also spoken to the management of the company. In fairness to the company, it indicated in its statement that it would assist employees affected by the closure of the software centre in whatever manner possible in sourcing alternative employment. In my further discussions with the management, they made it clear that from the point of view of the factory space, and obviously not taking on board direct competition, they would be very happy to provide that factory space for an alternative enterprise which would absorb that skilled workforce. We have the factory space, the skilled workforce, and the good will of the company. I want the Government and its agencies to ensure if at all possible that the window of opportunity in that regard will be used.
The other possibility is that the group itself might develop a project. I understand that discussions are under way between some of the members of that skilled and highly-trained workforce. If such a project should emerge from within the group, I want to ensure, whether through Forfás or any other State agency, that the maximum support is given to bringing such a project to fruition in Bandon.
I accept that there are problems worldwide in the telecommunications sector. We can only look at our own situation and the difficulties that arise where they are of our own making or where the solution is in our hands. In a general sense the deregulation process in Ireland is not working fully and properly. There has been no new investment in the domestic telecommunications industry in recent times. We are far behind the rest of the world in some aspects. There has been no deployment of the DSL, that is the digital subscriber line, other than trials. I call on this Government, for whatever time is left to it, to take the industry by the scruff of the neck in that general sense and try to stimulate a new approach. Otherwise the bad news of Bandon will be replicated nationwide.
My particular concern tonight is the project in Bandon. I have mentioned two possibilities for the use of that skilled workforce. I want that workforce marketed. I want the factory space and the skilled workforce to be presented internationally so that we can, if possible, attract international mobile investment. Alternatively, will the Government support the development of a project by the workforce? There is a window of opportunity. The workforce will not be laid off except on a phased basis between May and September. Let us use that window of opportunity.
