Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

Perhaps the Taoiseach would be good enough to try to establish the answer. I do not say this lightly but it seems to have been a vindictive decision by the line Minister.

On the future of social partnership, is the Taoiseach concerned about the manner of decision making in some employments recently but, most disturbingly in the former State company, Irish Sugar, now Greencore? The Carlow factory was closed without any consultation, even that required by EU directive, with the trade unions or the representatives of the workers concerned. The Minister for Agriculture and Food is on record denying she discussed the issue with Greencore when she met it shortly before the closure. I am sure the Minister is telling the truth but it beggars belief that Greencore met the Minister for Agriculture and Food just before it was to announce the closure of the plant and did not tell her.

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