Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy O'Connor for raising this issue. Given the way he raises matters on behalf of Tallaght, he will not be made redundant from the House.

I was disappointed to hear about the job losses at the company. I am particularly aware of the significance of the job losses in such a long-established company and every effort will be made to assist the employees in seeking alternative employment. I understand that a restructuring of the manufacturing activities of the company will lead to a cessation of production at its biscuit factory in Tallaght by early 2009. The planned restructuring will include an investment programme and the company expects to employ at that stage approximately 120 people in Ireland. The redundancies at the company will take place on a phased basis from September 2008 through to early 2009. The role of FÁS, the industrial training agency, will be particularly important. The agency has already written to the company and is prepared to offer its full range of services to any employees who wish to avail of them. I understand the company is entering into talks with employees and unions immediately.

Enterprise Ireland has had a number of discussions with the company in the past months regarding the latter's development plans and assistance has been given to its innovation agenda. Having reviewed a number of options, the company has taken the strategic decision to outsource its biscuit manufacturing operation. However, the company has also indicated its commitment to undertaking new product development in Ireland by deciding to establish an innovation centre of excellence in biscuit manufacturing. The agency will seek to continue working with the company to assist it in developing new products and processes and in enhancing its famous range of brands.

A decision by the company to establish an in-house research and development unit and new product development centre is in keeping with Enterprise Ireland's strategy for innovation with the agency's client companies, as innovation is accepted as the key to gaining a competitive advantage in the fast moving consumer goods sector. A number of added value food processing companies have already established dedicated NPD centres, a move that will serve to strengthen Ireland's most important indigenous industrial sector and copperfasten our reputation as a producer of safe, premium quality and innovative food products.

In the longer term, the future of the company's food and drinks sector will depend on a knowledge-based high added value operation with new product development. This will be necessary to maintain the sector's competitiveness in a competitive global food market. To this end, Enterprise Ireland has identified a number of growth areas, such as the fast growing functional foods market, organic products and convenience and specialty foods.

South-west Dublin continues to be actively marketed by IDA Ireland to potential investors and is well equipped to compete with other areas for potential foreign direct investment, with a third level institute and excellent infrastructural facilities at Citywest and Grangecastle. The announcement in November 2007 that Microsoft Corporation had selected Grangecastle as the location for its new European data centre was a further indication of Ireland's standing internationally as a global knowledge-based economy. It was also testament to IDA Ireland and south-west Dublin's commitment to growing next generation businesses in the area. Also in Grangecastle, the pharmaceutical company Wyeth Biopharma has established the world's largest biopharma campus facility, investing €1.8 billion and currently employing more than 1,300 highly skilled people. Recently, Wyeth announced that it is investing a further €24 million in the creation of additional dedicated research and development and process development facilities at its Grangecastle campus.

The State development agencies will continue to work together and with local interests to promote employment opportunities for Tallaght. I am confident that the strategies and policies being pursued in the area by the agencies will maximise the flow of potential investors and convert these into job opportunities. I thank the Deputy, who has a strong commitment to the area. I express my sympathies to the workers. Everything that can be done to ensure they find alternative employment or training facilities will be done.

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