Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

Allergan has been established in Arklow since 1980. It was first known as McGhan Limited and later Inamed Aesthetics. For the past 18 months it has been under the international company, Allergan. It was announced today that 350 people or thereabouts will lose their jobs over the next 18 months. On television this morning, we saw young couples with mortgages where both partners work in this company. This will have a huge effect on such people. The closure of other companies has shown us that it is not just the people who work there who suffer; the larger community is also affected. The larger economic sector of Arklow and its surroundings across the border into Wexford will suffer.

Arklow was a flagship town for many years as regards employment, but it has been left in the wilderness. I am mindful of the fact that five years ago, IFI, a semi-State company, closed a unit in Arklow that traded profitably. It was other parts of the IFI group that were not profitable. The then Minister committed to paying all the creditors of the company. To date, this has not happened. A total of 22 pence in the pound has been paid.

During a debate this morning on the Government's infrastructural spending, I heard it said that broadband is the new infrastructure. Five years ago, we were the leading country in Europe in IT. We are losing fast because we do not have the infrastructure and we will pay the price. I call on the Government immediately to put in place an action plan for Arklow.

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