Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, for coming before the House to listen to Deputy Healy, and I making a case for Carrick-on-Suir. As the Minister will be aware, it was announced today that 42 jobs will be lost in SRAM Ireland, which is located in the town, with a further 11 jobs set to be transferred elsewhere in the region. This is a major blow to the constituency of Tipperary South, specifically Carrick-on-Suir.

In this time of unprecedented prosperity we expect to gain rather than lose jobs. I am concerned about the 42 people who will be left with no work, some of them in as soon as three months' time. I am also disappointed that only 11 jobs will be transferred to SRAM Ireland's new facility in the south east. The company cited competition from the Far East as the reason for the job losses. The Government must step in to protect workers. Towns such as Carrick-on-Suir can be devastated by a closure of a factory, however small. The Government must take a proactive role in protecting jobs in factories when there is a danger of job losses occurring due to competition from countries with lower production costs. In these circumstances, it must actively source alternative employment for workers, particularly in heavily dependent towns such as Carrick-on-Suir. I urge the Minister to take serious measures on behalf of the people of the town and its surrounding areas which have received a devastating blow today.

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