Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

First, I replied to the question tabled. It asked whether my attention was drawn to the enterprise element of the special local area plan for Mallow. The answer is yes. My Department has been party to it, as have the enterprise agencies. The question continued by asking whether I had sought assurances or commitments from Greencore. When I met representatives from the company more than a year ago, I made it clear that I considered the site to have potential for the regeneration and economic development of Mallow. This is the reason I backed the workers strongly in respect of the redundancy issue which I considered to have the potential to clear the pitch, so to speak, in terms of a clear road map ahead. Sometimes the closure of something facilitates the birth of something new. In that context, I asked the agencies to work with the various interests in Mallow.

I was greatly struck by the professionalism of the urban council, of which the Deputy was a member prior to his election to Dáil Éireann — I congratulate him on his election. In particular, while I am not supposed to mention names in the House, the manager, Mr. Tim Lucey, had a clear focus. The agencies will work with county and urban councils, particularly in attracting investment to an area in which there are property solutions and business parks of high quality. There is the opportunity to so do in Mallow, to this site in particular.

I never discuss negotiations the IDA may be having with any company. I was delighted to be in Fermoy last week with the news in respect of Sanmina. This involved a €30 million investment in a contract manufacturer that has moved the company up the value chain and secured more than 400 jobs. There are 450 full-time and 250 temporary jobs. There would have been challenges had this not been achieved.

Enterprise Ireland will also work with indigenous companies. I was in Charleville relatively recently to open a company which had relocated from Cork city. People sometime fail to focus on such developments. They continue to think of major plants from overseas but much happens indigenously.

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