Ms Mary Mulholland:

I thank Deputy McNamara for raising this point which I had my hand raised to make. Rather than attributing blame to somebody for our being in this position, I want the members to advocate on our behalf to get us out of this position. In doing so, they will take the pressure off the Government. It might seem shortsighted to say only 83 families will be discommoded slightly by losing their jobs. I have three sons. I am not just one person affected by this. When I lose my job I will become a different drain on the Irish economy. I have a family of five and am only one of 83 people who have families dependent upon them. They will very quickly become dependent upon the State. That is what is happening. A total of 83 families is affected by this, not to mention the western region. We are being shortsighted in only thinking about now; we should be looking at the bounce back in the industry. I have been around for a million bounce backs. I have seen how they come. They are swift. When there is a bounce back housewives go shopping to New York, families go to Eurodisney and families finally has enough money to take their children abroad, for example, to the Wet and Wild water park in Orlando. When that bounce back comes it will be too late for me. I will be gone and my job in the west will be lost. My contribution to the community in the west will be gone. It will be too late for me. I ask the committee to advocate on my behalf and on behalf of my other 82 fantastic colleagues in Shannon who have worked very hard for the last number of years for this good company.