Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to raise the important and upsetting matter of the loss of 46 jobs in Bruff, at a cost to the community and, in particular, the employees of Microtherm Limited, of €1.5 million per annum. The news that the company has closed is a major blow to Bruff and staff at the plant who find themselves without employment with very little notice. It is particularly devastating given that it is the town's biggest employer and has been a mainstay of employment for more than 30 years.

In fact, 30 years ago, in 1976, the former Minister and MEP, Mr. Tom O'Donnell, was instrumental in bringing this industry to Bruff. From discussions I have had with the IDA today, I understand it is almost impossible to compile a rescue package, as the production of the thermostats has moved to cheap labour areas in the Far East. Many of its customer base manufacturers have also moved to cheap labour markets. It is important that the State agencies, the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and Shannon Development, with the support of Ballyhoura Fáilte, ensure that a replacement industry is identified for the plant as soon as possible. A creditors' meeting will take place in the next ten days and the company, which is legally independent of the parent German company, will be liquidated.

The State agencies must immediately open a dialogue on the future of the plant and ensure that it continues as a place of employment for the people of Bruff. The loss of the jobs in Bruff is difficult for the people directly concerned. It has created unanticipated financial pressures coming up to Christmas. While it was evident for some time that there were difficulties, it is not possible to be psychologically or financially prepared for the blow of redundancy. Just over 20 years ago, I was made redundant on statutory redundancy, so I know the trauma a person goes through. Everything must be done by the Minister and his State agencies to help the employees to obtain replacement employment. There will be an urgent requirement for the training agencies to introduce programmes to prepare those made redundant for future employment, involving reskilling for many of them.

Coming on top of the announcement of the difficulties in Castlemahon Poultry Products, this is the second severe blow to employment in my constituency, Limerick West. The Government has dismally failed to create employment in the constituency. It is time the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to pay attention to the devastation of the losses that have occurred in the last month. I understand the Minister met the representatives of the Castlemahon employees today. As we speak, the breeding hens there are being gassed and the cycle of production has ceased.

I impress on the Minister the need to ensure that a replacement industry goes in there. I know some people have approached the Minister, Shannon Development and others. I accept that Shannon Development is doing a feasibility study. I ask that the Minister try to ensure that the skills in Castlemahon are not lost to the area or to the poultry industry and that those who have little opportunity for other jobs in the area continue to work in the field some of them have known for many decades.

I also ask that the Minister, in his contacts with Northern Ireland, seek that the O'Kane organisation honour the redundancy arrangement it made in previous negotiations with the people who are made redundant. I ask the Minister to contact the German parent company of Microtherm and ensure that it will at least treat the 46 people who are to be made redundant in Bruff decently. That is all I ask, that the employees of Castlemahon and Bruff are treated decently.

See this speech in context