Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

We have to keep an open mind about the most suitable mechanisms to put in place when large numbers of people in a particular area, especially a peripheral location where easily accessible alternative jobs are not available, find themselves out of work. When large numbers of people are made redundant, we usually bring together State agencies such as FÁS to interact with the company and the workers to try to establish alternative employment or training. Such measures have been particularly successful. I have on many occasions met individuals who used to work as operatives on factory floors and were then trained in computer skills. In many instances, they are now working in better jobs and are earning substantially more money. We have had terrific success in obtaining alternative employment for many people.

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