Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 27 Sep 2006

Vol. 624 No. 1

Adjournment Debate.

Foreign Conflicts.

Mr. Allen

I am convinced that a UN force for Darfur is needed now and not in two or three month's time. We should immediately strengthen the African Union force while the UN force is being assembled and we should prioritise the delivery of aid to those at risk. Estimates of the casualties from the Darfur conflict which has been raging since early 2003 vary widely.Many non-governmental organisations estimatethat the number of deaths may have alreadyreached 400,000, a figure provided by theCoalition for International Justice. The website www.savedarfur.org also estimates that more than 400,000 people have died in Darfur, with up to 2.5 million having been displaced. The crisis does not end there as many more people are at risk of starvation as a result of the ongoing humanitarian disaster in that region. In fact, more than 3 million people are completely reliant on humanitarian aid for survival.

The conflict in Darfur is a blight on our globe and a shame on the civilised world. Death, destruction and mayhem have been visited on the civilian population in the most appalling manner. Ireland and all its partners in the international community who believe in peace and justice must use every possible method to bring about peace in Darfur. On 31 August last, the UN Security Council approved resolution 1706 which called for a new UN peace keeping force for the region. Since then, however, a UN force has not been deployed and the only progress seen in recent weeks has been the extension of the African Union mission in Sudan until the end of this year. While the extension of the mission is a welcome step, this force is not sufficient in the light of what the UN has called for and mandated as part of resolution 1706. That force is the minimum response required in terms of the protection of civilians in Darfur. Much more is needed and a full UN force should be deployed.

The government of Sudan has strongly objected to resolution 1706 and said that it would deem UN forces in the region as foreign invaders. However, the Sudanese government has backed the militia involved in the appalling genocide in Darfur and has been complicit in a campaign of ethnic cleansing for many years.

The international community must continue to press for the deployment of a full UN peace keeping mission for the region. We must press for this with absolute conviction and without wavering on the fundamental need for such a force. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, as represented by the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, should take this opportunity to put on the record the diplomatic efforts made by the Irish Government to impress on the Sudanese Government the fact that Ireland supports the deployment of a full UN force in Darfur. Ireland must be to the fore in calling for this force to be dispatched to the region and must use every possible method, including diplomatic, aid and trade channels at European and international level, to ensure that such a force is realised.

Time is not on our side. Each day the conflict continues without international action the casualty list grows even longer. In recent weeks the situation in Darfur has worsened considerably. Incidents of murder, rape and torture are increasing and the situation faced by many in the region, especially the displaced, is increasingly perilous.

The conflict in Darfur must be brought to an end and I wish to see the immediate deployment of the already authorised UN peace keeping force. In addition, the under staffed African Union force already in Darfur must be strengthened until the UN force is deployed. Given the numbers living in grave danger of starvation, the international community must increase humanitarian aid and prioritise the delivery of essential supplies needed by the people.

This is an horrendous situation and a blot on the good name of civilisation. People in this part of the world must rise to the challenge that Darfur poses. The people of the region must not be abandoned just because they are on the African continent.

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (Mr. C. Lenihan)

I speak on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, who is on official business in New York, where he spoke to the United Nations General Assembly yesterday. He also met the Sudanese Foreign Minister and the UN Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan. In both meetings the Darfur issue was top of the agenda.

The Government has consistently made clear that it is gravely concerned about the continuing humanitarian and political crisis in Darfur and is using all avenues to urge concerted international action to resolve them. We have been very active bilaterally, at EU level and in the UN context. In July the Minister was the first EU Foreign Minister to visit Darfur since the signature of the May peace agreement and he had the chance to visit the largest displaced persons' camp at Abu Shouk.

As the Minister stated when he addressed the General Assembly yesterday, the suffering of the people of Darfur shames the world. We cannot indefinitely stand by and watch with horror from the sidelines. The Sudanese government has a clear responsibility and if it fails to act the international community will have to consider possible further measures.

In his address, the Minister emphasised the three essential needs of the people of Darfur. First, humanitarian aid must be delivered safely and without restrictions. Since 2004, Ireland has provided more than €11 million in emergency aid to Darfur, including food and shelter assistance to displaced populations across the region. In response to the recent deterioration in the humanitarian situation, a further €1 million in humanitarian assistance for Sudan was recently approved. Ireland has also continuously insisted that all parties in Darfur must allow unhindered humanitarian access.

Second, there must be an international peace keeping force with a robust mandate. As decided by the UN Security Council on 31 August 2006, it should be a well-equipped and substantial UN force. The establishment of such a force was originally called for by the African Union and is fully supported by that body. It is regrettable and unacceptable that the Sudanese government continues to oppose the deployment of this UN force. Yesterday, the Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern appealed strongly and urgently to the Sudanese government to agree to its deployment. With our EU partners, Ireland is encouraging influential African countries and other states, such as China, to convey similar strong messages to the authorities in Khartoum.

Until transition to a UN mission takes place, AMIS, the cease fire observation mission in Darfur established by the African Union, should be strengthened as far as possible. The Government welcomes the decision taken on 20 September 2006 by the African Union to extend the mandate of AMIS until 31 December 2006. The size of the force is also to be increased to 8,500 troops and the UN will provide 180 logistical and technical support personnel. The EU has given extensive political, technical and financial support to AMIS, including more than €413 million since 2004. Ireland has provided €3 million, including €1.5 million pledged in July, to ensure that AMIS has the necessary resources to fulfil its mandate through to the end of this year. Four personnel from the Permanent Defence Forces have also served with AMIS.

However, while the creation of a so-called "AMIS-plus" is welcome so far as it goes, it does not provide a solution. Energetic international efforts must continue to pursue the deployment of a full UN force.

Third, long-term security can only be guaranteed by the full implementation of the Darfur peace agreement. Ireland urges those parties which have not yet signed it to do so as soon as possible and commit to its full implementation. More also needs to be done to widen the political basis of support for the agreement within Darfur itself. Early inauguration of the Darfur-Darfur dialogue, provided for in the agreement, would be invaluable in this regard.

The Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, at his meeting with the Sudanese Foreign Minister, Mr. Lam Akol, yesterday in New York, emphasised the three issues to which I referred. In response, Mr. Akol accepted there were genuine concerns regarding the humanitarian circumstances in Darfur. He said they are exacerbated by groups who are not on ceasefire continuing to fight the Sudanese Government. He welcomed the extension of AMIS to the end of 2006 and also stated the Sudanese authorities will hold discussions with the United Nations and the African Union on its concerns regarding Security Council Resolution 1706, which provides for the sending of a UN force to Darfur. This indication of Sudan's willingness to continue dialogue with the international community is welcome, but it must lead to concrete early decisions and follow-up. The Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, stressed that if the Sudanese Government has any genuine concerns regarding the role and remit of the UN force, he is sure they can be resolved.

Ultimately the conflict in Darfur requires a political solution. This is the compelling message at this crucial juncture in Sudan's history. Ireland will continue to use every opportunity, both bilaterally and in collaboration with its EU partners, to get the Government of Sudan to accept a UN force in Darfur.

Job Losses.

Dr. Cowley

I am grateful for the opportunity to raise this very important matter on the Adjournment. I am glad to see the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, present.

I raised the difficulties in Ballina on a great many occasions and on a weekly basis in Dáil Éireann. It is certainly an unemployment blackspot. Although the Minister might dispute this, the reality is that 1,000 jobs have been lost over nine years and have not been replaced. Any area that loses so many jobs is in trouble.

There are construction and service industries in Ballina but they are just giving the impression that things are happening. However, the jobs are not industrial jobs. The industrial base has been significantly weakened thanks to the closure of a series of very valuable industries in the area, such as Asahi, Hennigans and Oasis. Since I raised this in the Dáil, Duffy's Bakery has lost 42 jobs.

Ballina, the capital of north Mayo, with its large population, is an unemployment blackspot. I previously referred to the unemployment rate of 11%, which is twice the national average, and stated there are more on the live register there than in County Roscommon. This speaks for itself.

We clearly need proper infrastructure. The IDA says the lack of infrastructure is the difficultly and this has been raised time and again. Progress on the N26 and Ballina-Bohola bypass seemed to stop in mid-stream. Construction took place as far as Carrowntreila but was never completed. We need infrastructure such as a proper industrial site and it is a scandal that there is still none. The issue of the 27-acre industrial park on the Sligo road has been ongoing for almost a decade. It is a total fiasco and an indictment of the failure of the local authority, in association with the IDA and Enterprise Ireland, to address the very serious unemployment that exists.

The area is crying out for some positive initiatives. The Taoiseach was in Ballina about two weeks ago with Dara Calleary, the Fianna Fáil hopeful. I asked the Taoiseach what he was doing for Ballina and whether he would make a positive statement about the town before he left. He went around the town with Mr. Calleary but said nothing about the terrible situation that exists there. Worse still, he did not take my advice and make a positive statement on what could be done. The problem is due to a lack of infrastructure and balanced regional development, to which the Government says it is committed. However, it is just paying lip service to the idea because there is almost a €3.9 billion underspend under the national development plan. The reality is that the area is uncompetitive. If people are to develop the area, proper investment is required.

I raised this issue in the Dáil with the Minister previously and he made all sorts of promises that there would be action and stated the IDA, Enterprise Ireland, etc., were doing wonderful things. I was told progress on the 27-acre site on the Sligo road was at an advanced stage but there is still no progress although it is the end of September. This is intolerable.

In March the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, expressed regret at the Oasis closure and said there would be positive developments. However, there were none. He stated it was a great priority to find alternative employment for those who lost their jobs but this has not been done either. The IDA is supposed to be doing all sorts of things and bringing all sorts of people to set up industry in Ballina but this has not happened. How could it happen when there is no industrial site?

There was talk of prioritising expenditure in the BMW area but it amounts to nothing. The Minister is very confident that the State development agencies will strengthen, promote and market Ballina and north Mayo but it is just more words. The time for words is long gone and I hope the Minister will do something more positive than the Taoiseach, rather than just giving me the same old line that so much is happening. The reality on the ground is that jobs are continuing to be lost, and those affected are real people. The job losses at Duffy's Bakery serve as another example.

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Martin)

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter.

I was very concerned to hear that the company in question has announced it will reduce its workforce during October and November. According to the company, this difficult decision was taken due to the non-viability of the wholesale section of the business.

I am very conscious of the effect these job losses will have on the workers involved, their families and the community in the surrounding area. This is very distressing news for those who will lose their jobs as a result of the announcement. I assure the people concerned that the State agencies will provide every support they can and that the priority will be to find alternative employment for those involved at the earliest possible opportunity.

The role of FÁS, the State training agency, will be particularly important in assisting those who are about to lose their jobs. The agency has already made contact with the company and is awaiting a response from it so a convenient date for a meeting can be agreed. The full range of the agency's services will be made available to the employees concerned if they wish to avail of them. These include training, education and helping people secure alternative employment in other enterprises in the area.

The industrial development agencies will be making every effort to secure alternative investment and employment for Ballina. The national spatial strategy provides a framework for achievement of this goal through the prioritisation of development and investment in the gateway and hub locations. On this basis, IDA Ireland seeks to attract foreign direct investment into the linked hubs of Ballina and Castlebar. The authority is promoting Ballina for new foreign investment as well as working with the existing base of overseas companies in Ballina to encourage them to grow and expand. Since January 2003, there have been five first-time site visits to Ballina. The authority's sectoral emphasis is on attracting new knowledge-intensive projects in the medical technologies, life sciences, information and communications technology and international services sectors.

The authority is also working closely with local groups, utility providers, the local authorities in the county and other agencies to enhance the attractiveness of the county, including Ballina, for new investment. In that regard, the authority has been deeply involved with local partners in the development of regional planning guidelines.

The Deputy mentioned the industrial park and referred to failure. It is important in a debate such as this that we be straight and upfront. One cannot blame IDA Ireland for the logjam in the courts. I understand that a particular legal difficulty, which is extremely unfortunate, is holding up the development of a very important property solution that would facilitate the attraction of inward investment. It is not enough simply and straightforwardly to attack a State agency as if the situation were its fault.

Dr. Cowley

There is another site on the Foxford Road.

Mr. Martin

Enterprise Ireland has approved funding of over €1.2 million to client companies in the north Mayo area since 2003. A new Enterprise Ireland supported high potential start-up company, Heatsolve Limited, commenced operations in Ballina in 2005. I was with it in South Africa last week. Enterprise Ireland has committed funding of over €700,000 to the IRD North Mayo-West Sligo Limited for the development of enterprise space in Ballina. As the Deputy is aware, I officially opened the centre during my visit to Ballina in January 2006. His colleague, Dara Calleary, was there to meet me in the company of Deputy Carty and Frank Chambers. Dara Calleary was very strong on identifying needs in Ballina, and the Deputy is correct in detecting his interest in the situation, with that of Deputy Carty. I should point out that in August 2005——

Dr. Cowley

That is the same answer. Nothing has changed.

Mr. Martin

This is an important point. I did not interrupt the Deputy and it is important in a debate such as this that we put facts on the table.

In August 2005, there were 1,605 people on the live register in Ballina. The most recent data available, which are for August 2006, show that the number has fallen to 1,448.

Dr. Cowley

It is still 1,448.

Mr. Martin

Going back four years to August 2002, the figure for Ballina was 528 higher than now, with 1,976 people on the live register.

The Deputy's use of the words "unemployment blackspot" to describe a growing and developing town does nothing to help its position regarding future investment.

Dr. Cowley

What will happen?

Mr. Martin

That negative profile does nothing to help any agency attract anything. We will make every effort regarding indigenous industry and to attract foreign direct investment, but overall the message that must emanate from Mayo is that we are open for all kinds of investment, including those that use the natural resources of our seas.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

We must move on to the next matter.

Mr. Martin

What is going on with the campaign regarding the oil discoveries off the Mayo coast does nothing to enhance the county's external perception as a place where one can do business.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

We must move on.

Dr. Cowley

All the Minister wants to do is clog up the roads.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Deputies Cregan and Neville are raising the same matter, so they will be taken together, with each Deputy receiving five minutes.

Company Closures.

Mr. Cregan

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise what to my constituents is an extremely important matter. I also thank the Minister for his presence. We raise matters on the Adjournment on several occasions over the year and it is not always possible for the appropriate Minister to reply. Tonight he shows by his presence how seriously he is treating the imminent demise of Castlemahon Food Products Limited in west Limerick.

Yesterday was a bad and bleak day for workers in Castlemahon and growers in the area. I will start on a positive note by saying that we still have a chance to salvage at least part of that operation. It is extremely important that we think positively. I know that there are moves afoot as we speak to try to ensure that. We should preface our remarks by being positive and trying to encourage everyone with the responsibility of playing a part to come on board. I am of course seriously concerned for the 300 workers who face an extremely bleak few months approaching Christmas. They are predominantly young people who have taken on commitments in life and who need a week's wages coming into their house. In some cases both partners are being affected, and we must make every effort to ensure that we can save as many of those jobs as possible.

Second, the growers are predominantly small farmers on family holdings around the Castlemahon area and a little farther afield. Some 80 to 100 growers are dependent on the income that they received from the production of chicken for the Castlemahon processing unit, having diversified from dairying. We must try to ensure that a market can be secured for those growers. The best possible market is that which they have locally in Castlemahon. We must reinvigorate the Castlemahon brand name, which is famous all over the country and the UK. It is very important that we do so.

A worst-case scenario is Castlemahon's total demise, which I certainly hope does not occur. In that event, I will call on the Minister, his Department and all the statutory agencies to come on board and make every effort to ensure that they step up to the plate for Castlemahon and west Limerick in general. We have not had a positive response from the IDA or Enterprise Ireland for many years in this regard.

I recognise that we have had massive investment and support for indigenous industry in west Limerick. We have seen many jobs created, but when five, ten or 20 jobs are created, we do not have a fanfare of announcements or recognise their value to our communities. They are valuable, and I hope that we can continue creating such posts. I acknowledge the support of the county enterprise board, West Limerick Resources, Shannon Development and others in that regard. However, as I have said, IDA Ireland has a case to answer for west Limerick and I hope that it will now step up to the mark and help in whatever way it can to ensure success.

This comes hot on the heels of the demise of Kantoher, part of the Kerry Group, which was also a chicken-processing unit, 14 or 15 months ago. I acknowledge the success story that has taken place and the efforts of everyone concerned. The local action group or task force put in place is to be commended on its tremendous work in turning a very gloomy and sad story into something very positive. It has been accused of being a talking shop. I neither accept nor agree with that, since it has successfully applied for grant aid from the Minister to provide a new enterprise park in the Kantoher area. To his credit, following a visit to the area at my request, the Minister approved the appointment of a development officer, which I believe will shortly occur. The area has also secured a site for the enterprise project from the Kerry Group, whose efforts I also acknowledge, since it has been more than helpful to the local community.

We were getting up off our knees and heading in the right direction, but yesterday's news was very severe. It is important that we not start playing the blame game or scoring political points. All of us — public representatives, State agencies, the Department and the Minister — must work together to try to ensure that we can reverse this as completely as we reversed the previous situation in Kantoher.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

The Deputy should conclude.

Mr. Cregan

We have been very dependent on food processing in west Limerick and I concede that there have been difficulties throughout Ireland's chicken processing industry, although not to the same extent as in Castlemahon. This news has not come as a surprise to me since closure has been threatened for some time. While people were devastated when the final announcement was made, I have taken the opportunity over the past few months to keep the Minister and his counterpart in the Department of Agriculture and Food briefed.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

The Deputy must conclude.

Mr. Cregan

They both responded in whatever way they could. At the time of the most recent restructuring in Castlemahon, we were promised reinvestment and modernisation.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

The Deputy has exceeded his time.

Mr. Cregan

That did not happen. I understood I had——

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Five minutes.

Mr. Neville

The Deputy has now had seven minutes and I hope that I get as long.

Mr. Cregan

All that reinvestment and modernisation happened at the parent company in Armagh, the O'Kane Group, rather than in Castlemahon, something that I very much regret. I once again appeal to the Minister to make every effort possible. He has very kindly made himself available at my request to meet people in the coming days and I hope we can work together to try to replace those jobs.

Mr. Neville

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for providing the opportunity, which I requested yesterday, to raise this issue of vital importance to west Limerick, namely, the news that the processing plant, Castlemahon Food Products, is in liquidation and likely to close. It is a major blow to the local population, especially to the 350 people employed at the plant and in allied work at Castlemahon. They face a very bleak situation. Many of them have been in the plant for decades and developed skills that must be recognised. The plant should be saved in some way through working with the liquidator to ensure that those skills are utilised.

The likelihood that Castlemahon will close compounds a situation which arose in January 2005 when 140 jobs were lost at Kantoher Poultry Products, adjacent to the area, as well as 140 jobs at that time in Castlemahon. Between direct and indirect employment there could be a loss of 1,000 jobs in that small region, where the poultry industry was so important since 1960 when Castlemahon moved into that area, having been established as a co-operative in 1920. The factory has been a valuable employer and an integral part of the community in west Limerick, an area where there has been considerable deprivation. Employees, their families and local suppliers are rocked by this news. The economic cost to the area is enormous.

It is especially devastating in an area of west Limerick where the population is in decline and where alternative job opportunities are severely limited. Suppliers to the plant will be severely hit, too, and their situation must be immediately clarified. In the case of Kantoher there was continuation of supply to the parent plant at Kerry. We do not know what the situation is in the case of Castlemahon and it is quite serious. In fact, this an area where there has been increased unemployment in recent times, as the figures show. It is high time that the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Minister for Agriculture and Food opened their eyes to the haemorrhaging of employment from regional rural communities such as this before we become a country of ghost towns.

The Government must immediately organise a committee of relevant services, high profile people and institutions to establish replacement industries and ensure the availability of employment for those being made redundant so that families have an opportunity to continue to live in the area, pay their mortgages and rear their children there. A particular responsibility rests with the major party in Government, Fianna Fáil, to ensure that the 300 to 350 jobs are replaced immediately. The loss of Castlemahon Food Products would eliminate sixfold the work done by many organisations and public-spirited people who campaigned over many years to have 50 jobs decentralised to Newcastle West.

The Minister might say that the poultry industry in Ireland is a highly competitive one. It is, for two reasons. The first is the admittance of third country products from countries such as Thailand where increased production results in products being labelled as Irish. There is no traceability. The effect such cheap products will have on the poultry industry has been pointed out time and again, yet this situation has been accepted by the Government. Poultry farmers have survived in Ireland and especially in this area by dint of hard work and strategic expansion where possible. The industry as a whole, however, has suffered dramatically from increased costs. The cost issue of the Castlemahon plant is something that has been raised.

The industry must also meet excessively high standards imposed by Government while competing against the inferior products that in many cases are not even traceable. The issue of the importation of Third World products is crucial in this competitive area and the Minister must take this on board. Growers have invested substantially in their enterprises. Many of them have heavy borrowings. Many will see most of their livelihoods destroyed. They will have to meet their borrowings regardless of what happens. I took a call from a poultry producer today who simply asked me whether he would need planning permission to knock his poultry house, because that is all he can do with it. When I checked it out, by the way, the answer was "No".

That is the sad situation such people find themselves in. Since this Administration came to power, an industry that was crucial to the economy of that area of west Limerick, from Newcastle West to Castlemahon to Kantoher and up as far as Charleville, has disappeared. That is a legacy which this Government has given to the poultry industry and its 1,000 employees in that area of west Limerick and up to 100 suppliers who will be made redundant, without the opportunity to negotiate redundancy packages. I ask the Minister to get the Government to talk to the liquidator to ensure that what can be saved is saved. The skills of the people there, built up over some 46 years, is the key to ensuring that the poultry industry continues in this area. I thank the Minister for his time.

Mr. Martin

I thank the Deputies for raising these matters. I appreciate Deputy Cregan's very constructive approach in his opening statement by trying to look for a way forward to see whether we can salvage something from yesterday's pessimistic announcement of the appointment of a liquidator and next month's High Court hearing in the matter.

I thank Deputy Neville for raising it, and appreciate his concerns, but people in general are far more sensible in terms of their appreciation of global forces, competition and the need to work on our existing industries to make them more competitive and to invest. That depends on companies taking decisions as well. Enterprise Ireland is available to assist companies on an ongoing basis to modernise, to change what they are doing and to move in terms of market needs. It is still ready to be of assistance, if necessary, but Deputy Cregan made the point that there seems to be a degree of consolidation involved from west Limerick to other parts of the island, such as Armagh. West Limerick has suffered as a result.

Fundamentally, however, if job losses occur here, it affects the workers involved and their families, as Deputy Cregan and Deputy Neville have said, as well as the community in the surrounding areas. It would be very distressing news for them and I want to assure the people concerned that the relevant State agencies will do everything they possibly can to provide support. The priority in the event of closure will be to find alternative employment at the earliest opportunity for those involved. The role of FÁS, the training agency, will be particularly important in assisting those who are to lose their jobs.

In February 2005, the company announced a restructuring plan which involved a reduction in staff numbers of 150, down from 410 to 260. In May of that year, it confirmed that workers at the company had accepted its redundancy offer by a large majority and at that stage there was talk of further investment. Unfortunately, matters have not improved over the past 18 months. In fact, they have continued to worsen. The current level of profitability in the Irish poultry sector is very low. This is due to a very fierce competitive market and increased volumes of cheaper imports from abroad. Nevertheless, I understand the liquidator will be working closely with the management and other interests over the next few weeks in an effort to find new owners for the enterprise.

Basically, the company has been operating in a very competitive market and has been trading at a loss for a number of years. During this very difficult period, Enterprise Ireland has been in regular contact with the company. Discussions were centred on potential involvement by the agency in the future development of the company. However, despite the best efforts of all concerned, it was not possible to avoid the situation that has been reached. Given its local presence in the area, Shannon Development has moved quickly to assist with efforts to minimise the effect of the closure on west Limerick and the Newcastle West area. Within 24 hours of the public announcement, Shannon Development has arranged a meeting of West Limerick Resources Ltd., a local group in which Shannon Development is an active board member. The group, chaired by Shannon Development and comprised of key local groups in the area has done much valuable work following the closure of Kantoher Poultry Products last year, with the loss of 138 jobs. Together with representatives from Limerick County Enterprise Board and West Limerick Resources Ltd., the agency will meet all public representatives in the area to discuss how Shannon Development can support those affected by the closure. Shannon Development will set up an internal working group to identify opportunities to assist those affected.

As well as these initiatives, Shannon Development will stay in close contact with the Newcastle West Chamber of Commerce, which I recently met with Deputies Cregan and Collins. The most recent live register figures, for August 2006, show a total of 6,327 for Limerick city and 1,006 for Newcastle West. While the figure for Limerick city is down from 6,769 in the corresponding month in 2002, the figure for Newcastle West is up by 79. However, overall figures for Limerick city and county show a decline in the live register from 8,593 in August 2002 to 8,253 in August 2006. There is a churn in employment across the country. Traditional industries are under pressure and are closing, while other industries, especially the service industry, are providing much employment. In the past five or six years, more than 440,000 jobs were created in services and 150,000 in high-end manufacturing. There has been a complete turn around in the nature of employment. Much employment has moved to cities and towns. We have asked the agencies to do what they can for indigenous enterprise and foreign direct investment.

West Limerick in general is well serviced with industry with major companies such as Wyeth, Aughinish Alumina, Kostal, Ballygowan, and Pallas Foods being the major employers in the vicinity of Newcastle West. In 2004, Shannon Development completed the land purchase and business plan for a new business park in Newcastle West. The park is located on a 40-acre site adjoining the town, and infrastructural and servicing work on the first 20 acres is in place. A BES unit, approved by Shannon Development, is now in place on the business park and clients are being sought. Shannon Development has sold three sites to industrial companies and construction on these sites should commence by the end of this year. In addition to these developments already under way, Shannon Development has solid inquiries on its books regarding site purchases for the business park. These developments will help strengthen the industrial base of the Newcastle West area.

A central goal for the industrial development agencies is the achievement of balanced regional development. The attractiveness of Limerick lies in its position as a regional gateway, with a critical mass and infrastructure necessary to attract mobile investment to the region. The Government and the agencies recognise the need to provide high volume employment opportunities in Limerick that result in sustainable long-term jobs. The strategies adopted have proved successful to date despite a competitive and ever-changing global economy. It is disappointing to see job losses in the poultry sector, but Limerick has a strong base of foreign direct investment jobs. The most recent figures available — for December 2005 — show that there are 38 overseas companies employing more than 8,500 people in permanent jobs and a further 1,500 in temporary and contract employment. Most of these 10,000 jobs are in the city environs but as a result of the job losses in the company concerned, I am confident the State development agencies will strengthen their marketing and promotion efforts in the region and will make every effort to secure alternative employment for the area. This will be done in partnership with other key players to maximise the flow of potential investors for the area and to convert these into investment and job opportunities.

I assure the Deputies that we will do everything we can to assist the workers concerned by matching them with jobs created in the locality. We will get the industrial agencies to move to attract the new industry and to create indigenous industry in the area.

The Dáil adjourned at 9.15 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 28 September 2006.