Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

I am aware of the importance of the company in providing employment for many years. Iralco was a strong employer in the area. We acknowledge that the loss of 420 jobs in an area such as Collinstown in Westmeath has an immediate impact on the community and environment with the embryonic and ancillary spin-offs to other job creation, investment in shops and hurling teams. It has a devastating impact.

The IDA is in negotiations. It is trying to rescue the company and it will meet with the family which owns it tomorrow evening. An investment plan existed to establish a plant in the Ukraine and coating and painting was being shipped over there. Primarily, we are trying to ensure the IDA is in there putting together a rescue package. This has been ongoing for some time. The Labour Relations Commission was involved previously and discussions took place between the unions and management. They could not agree to pay the national pay deal. Discussions took place to see whether the wage level could be reduced. Unfortunately, for whatever reasons, this did not come to fruition.

We are in a competitive global market and this company has sustained loses for some time. The IDA approached it some time ago in the context of grant assistance for research and development in conjunction with it forwarding a business plan. It is still involved.

I wish to state to the workers that we acknowledge that generations of the same families have been employed by Iralco and have raised families. The company has been a good and responsible employer for many years and this must be acknowledged. The reasons for the announcement to go into liquidation can be ascertained at a later date. At present, we want to rescue as many jobs as possible.

See this speech in context