Michael Finneran (Longford-Roscommon, Fianna Fail)

I join with my colleague, Deputy Ellis, in raising this matter on the Adjournment.

I refer to the loss of the remaining 85 jobs and the disgraceful treatment handed down to the village of Rooskey and its people by the Glanbia company which has already pocketed some €30 million of an insurance claim following a fire in the factory in 2002, with the loss of more than 400 jobs. The ultimate insult is the refusal of a management buy-out which would have protected the remaining 85 jobs.

This is a disgrace and a severe blow to the area, to the people of Roscommon and south Leitrim. I am outraged that the management of the canning facility at Rooskey and the Glanbia company have decided to close the facility in the new year, despite a recent attempt at a buy-out which has the support of a Dutch family company and which would have provided an outlet for the products in Europe. A buy-out was lined up and support was established for the facility. I do not understand how they could do this to the people of Roscommon and Leitrim considering the job losses they have already experienced at the facility.

I call on the Government to put pressure on Glanbia to reopen the discussions between the buy-out company and Glanbia. I ask that all the State agencies become involved to ensure that this facility which is the last canning facility in the country, is maintained. If they are not prepared to entertain this on their own site, I ask that they stay in business or allow the business to continue until the middle of 2007 so that the county manager of County Roscommon, with the State agencies, can provide an alternative site to save these jobs and perhaps provide increased jobs in that area. Canning is not an industry that we will ever see in Ireland again if this facility in Rooskey is closed down. Glanbia owes more to the people of County Roscommon and County Leitrim than it is currently providing. The Government should put strong pressure on the company. My colleague and I are speaking here on behalf of the people of the area. We are expressing the widely held view in that area that this company has walked away and pocketed a significant sum of money without giving any positive response to the local people. It has a chance to do so now and my colleague and I are calling for that to be done.

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