Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

On the question of Ukraine, the two factories are interdependent. That has been brought to the attention of the IDA. It is important to reiterate that the IDA had already been engaging with the company and had offered assistance by lending its support to resolve the industrial relations situation through discussions with unions at senior level and with shareholders. That has been happening for some time. Subject to the resolution of the industrial relations and funding issues in the company, the IDA had confirmed to the company that it would look at supporting training, consultancy and research and development based on its future business plans in Collinstown. The IDA also offered to assist if the company decided to seek investment from equity or industrial partners and to work with Enterprise Ireland in the case of an indigenous shareholding investment. It has been in negotiations and in contact with the company for some time. A liquidator was appointed over the weekend, which was a very regrettable decision.

The IDA is there at present. If jobs are lost, or if the company can be saved and only a certain number of jobs are retained, FÁS will be available to do a skills audit to ensure there are opportunities for people to undertake courses, upskill or train or to be pointed towards other enterprises which might need the skills of workers heretofore employed in Iralco.

The Government is very committed. The Minister said he is available to meet the family. However, this is a very complex issue. The company is now in liquidation. The company in Ukraine is dependent on the one in Collinstown and vice versa. It was clearly explained some time ago that it needed immediate investment to speed up the Ukraine development which would have an impact on Collinstown.

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