Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)

People in Limerick are very concerned about the future of Dell and the future of the companies that supply it, many of which have Dell as their sole customer. Naturally, employees in Dell and in the other companies to which I referred are the most concerned. The announcement last week that up to 500 contract workers were being let go has heightened the level of concern. An announcement was also made last week that Flextronics was letting 100 staff go. It subsupplies Dell, which is its only customer. Today, Banta let go 68 staff. It subsupplies Dell, its only customer. This is causing major concern.

Contract workers in Dell are let go every year as production schedules are adjusted, usually on a quarterly basis, but more workers than usual have been let go this year. This is not surprising, given the lack of confidence internationally. I do not want to make little of contract workers being let go; they are suffering and so are their families. My primary concern is the future of the Dell against the background of the worldwide review of its operations currently being undertaken, as announced by the company earlier this year.

Dell has made an enormous contribution to Limerick and there is high confidence locally not only in its products but in its management both locally and internationally. There is no similar confidence in the Tánaiste who is responsible as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, nor is there confidence in the IDA which has failed to give any assurances either to the local community or to the workers in Limerick.

The position is difficult for everyone and scaremongering will only make things worse. In the Minister of State's reply, I hope he can begin to restore some of the confidence that his senior Minister, the Tánaiste, has failed to restore up to now.

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