Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)

My question was carefully framed to elicit a detailed reply. The decision by Amgen not to proceed with the project in question was the equivalent of what happened at Intel. Everyone is sympathetic because 1,100 jobs were due to be created directly as a result of the project and a further 100 would have come about in ancillary and spin-off industries.

Does the Minister agree the signs in respect of this project were ominous? The early warning system in his Department relates to job losses but did no one associated with it happen to read a detailed article in the Los Angeles Times on 16 February this year which referred to the fact that Amgen's top selling drug was under scrutiny, that negative results had been associated with it, that there was going to be a fall in the share price and that analysts were advising investors that the company's shares would come under pressure? Were the Minister and his Department the only ones unaware of what was happening? Deputy Ned O'Keeffe was in a position to state the Government and its Ministers had painted a rosy picture until the general election had been negotiated.

I visited Amgen with my colleagues Councillor John Mulvihill and Deputy Sherlock, whose late father kept me informed in respect of this issue. Why did people not know what was going to happen in respect of the project in question? Is there any way the Minister could establish an early warning system in respect of promised employment that would be similar to the existing system relating to job losses? What has occurred is a significant blow. I accept the Minister's assurance that it was global rather than local or national considerations which led to the project not proceeding.

How much money was spent by Cork County Council with regard to putting in place infrastructure such as roads, sewerage systems, etc? Will that money be recouped from Amgen? What beneficial interest does IDA Ireland hold in the site and what efforts will be made to remarket it in the context of attracting alternative industry?

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