Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)

Wednesday, 4 May 2005 will long be remembered in the Waterford constituency as a black day. It is the day on which it was announced that 485 jobs are to be lost at Waterford Crystal's plants in Dungarvan and Kilbarry in Waterford city. Dungarvan is to sustain the most significant hit with the proposed closure of the plant. There is deep shock in Dungarvan where the workers were briefed on the restructuring package at a meeting at 10.30 a.m. Briefing of the workforce at Kilbarry took place in the afternoon.

The workers must have time to absorb fully the details of the company's proposals and, in conjunction with their union leaders, arrive at their response to very difficult circumstances. The response will provide the basis of talks with the company. Every effort must be made to protect the maximum number of jobs. The union is committed to advancing solidarity between the workers in Waterford city and Dungarvan. Those who above all others deserve our concern and support are the workers whose jobs are in danger and their families. They are the ones facing the abyss.

The Government, Enterprise Ireland, the IDA and FÁS must leave no stone unturned in seeking to minimise the number of redundancies, upskill those who become redundant and accelerate the provision of urgently required replacement jobs. Too often in the past in circumstances of closure or redundancies all the right words have been spoken by those in power on the alleviation of pain, suffering and dramatic reductions in income and quality of life for those who lose jobs, but kind words do not put food on the table or pay the bills. The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment must convince the House that his words are not idle, but are indicative of a deep commitment to making a difference to the lives of the victims of today's announcement.

Dungarvan and Waterford crystal plants produce a world-class product which, over many years, has commanded a premium price, especially in the USA market. The company describes its task as clear and its challenge as great. The problems of people with up to 30 years service who face redundancy and their families are grave indeed. While of some assistance, words of sympathy and sadness to the workers of Waterford Crystal are no substitute for effective action. The loss of the Waterford Crystal plant is a devastating prospect for Dungarvan and west Waterford. An initial gesture of goodwill by the Government should be the immediate establishment of an advance office of Ordnance Survey Ireland in Dungarvan to ensure that full decentralisation of the agency is completed without further unnecessary delay. It is one measure which would be of significant assistance to the economy of the county town.

There are many heavy hearts in Dungarvan, west, mid and east Waterford and Waterford city tonight and a very dismal future appears to face many in the constituency. FÁS and Waterford Institute of Technology have potentially significant roles to play in the upskilling and retraining of staff. The investment agencies have significant roles to play to secure investment and jobs and support existing employment. Undoubtedly, today's events have highlighted problems of trust in industrial relations at Waterford Crystal which are in nobody's long or even short-term interests. There are difficult days ahead for everyone involved, all of whom must work with the objective of ensuring that every possible job at Waterford Crystal is retained. I call on the Minister to make an absolute effort in this regard.

See this speech in context