Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

I express my disappointment at the decision of the company to close its Cork operations and I have asked the State development agencies under the aegis of my Department to make every effort to assist the workers being made redundant in securing alternative employment.

Freescale is a large global company that regularly makes adjustments to resources as a normal course of operations to meet changing business requirements in a very dynamic industry. The company has decided to streamline its cellular design centres and as part of this decision is proposing that all programmes in its Cork design facility be transferred to other locations and the facility be closed. The closure of the facility is expected in September 2008 and will result in 47 employees losing their jobs.

IDA Ireland is providing ongoing assistance to local management in Freescale, Cork, and is using its network of overseas offices to find alternative employment in the radio frequency and wireless technology area for affected employees in the company. FÁS has been in contact with the management of Freescale and will make arrangements to register the employees. The full range of FÁS services will be made available to the employees, as will the services and supports of Enterprise Ireland and the county enterprise board for any worker who is considering establishing her or his own business.

A variety of differing and complex factors, not just cost related, might influence a decision to relocate all or part of a firm's functions. In addition to costs, factors might include business takeovers, consolidations and changes in product or market focus. The result is flows of investment and employment across borders. Ireland successfully manages this process through our policies on growing indigenous enterprise and attracting and embedding foreign direct investment. These policies have enabled us to win many prestigious and value added investments and have enabled us to replace lost jobs with others of equal or higher value in the economy.

The pipeline of new business for which the IDA is competing is as strong as at any time in recent years. We measure success now in terms of the number, quality and spread of investments, not just in job numbers alone. Ireland is now a global competitor for research and innovation investment from multinational companies and leading research institutions.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

We are progressing on several fronts to meet the targets of the strategy for science, technology and innovation and the development of a knowledge economy. I believe we will continue to achieve and sustain our excellence in research from which our economy will reap rewards. The key to our success will be derived from seeing the outputs of current research in terms of new innovations and discoveries that will directly impact on peoples lives. That is to say these outputs will lead to jobs, improvements in healthcare and new products and services.

We continue to have an educated and skilled workforce which will be the cornerstone of the next phase of our economic development. We are investing in infrastructure, people, innovation and enterprise. We are confidently investing for our future. I am confident that the strategies and policies being pursued by the State development agencies will continue to support enterprise development and job creation. I reaffirm that the State agencies will continue to work closely with each other and with local interests to assist in delivering an integrated approach to investment and enterprise development, not just in County Cork but throughout the State.

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