Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I am answering the question. I answered it at length in my initial response because I do not accept the simplistic portrayal of Deputy Ó Caoláin, which is easy to put across. Redundant workers welcomed the European globalisation fund initiative and said it would be of assistance to them in finding retraining opportunities and seeking other opportunities as they seek to positively move from where they are to where they want to go. That was the reaction on the ground in Limerick. Deputy Ó Caoláin suggests that the European Union facilitated something. The decision was taken by the company and the company takes that responsibility.

The investment within Poland is within state aid rules that apply in this country as they do in other countries. That is how it operates and it was not a question of the EU providing any moneys to the Polish authorities. That is their own money. While I would rather Dell had been able to stay in Limerick, the company still has a presence there and I acknowledge that the company made a strong contribution while it was here. I would rather that it could remain here but we must deal with the situation as it is. As a result of that company's decision, the European Union stepped in to assist these workers through the EU globalisation fund. To portray the EU negatively on that basis is an unfair charge against the EU.

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