Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

To prevent other unfounded rumours circulating here, I note that the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment was informed for the first time on 3 October that the Amgen project in east Cork would be postponed indefinitely. The decision to postpone is based purely on developments pertaining to Amgen's global business and, contrary to Opposition claims, is not due to costs or lack of competitiveness in Ireland. It is a commercial decision by Amgen in the context of the present situation.

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