John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I cannot underestimate Enterprise Ireland's work in maintaining or slightly increasing job levels. It has been incredible in these tough times. However, I wish to ask about Enterprise Ireland's approach to job losses. I only wish to highlight the issue and do not expect our guests to be able to answer fully, but I would appreciate it if they could answer. The Workers Co-operative Network appeared before the committee a while ago. It mentioned how successful co-operatives and that type of economic activity could be. The model that we typically use to measure economic activity is foreign direct investment, FDI.

The Workers Co-operative Network stated that in some countries, for example, France, legislation is in place to allow jobs and enterprise agencies to examine a company that is about to go down the drain to determine whether it is sufficiently viable to have life pumped into it. Must we review our approach to companies that are going down the Swanee? Is there a fresh way to determine whether they remain viable? My impression is that there is. Enterprise Ireland and other bodies, including the Legislature, need to ask themselves these questions. Are other countries using better practices to save jobs?