Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

——and providing educational and entrepreneurial supports for almost 2,500 redundant workers in the mid-west. It has included close co-operation and consultation with the European Commission by the Government, culminating in President Barroso's announcement made in Limerick in September of Commission approval of the application. All relevant State agencies and educational institutions in the mid-west have been involved with the Tánaiste's Department in designing tailored programmes in their areas of expertise. Supports are currently being provided by FÁS, Enterprise Ireland, city and county enterprise boards and local vocational education committees. A number of additional measures are being considered in the areas of entrepreneurial supports and work placement schemes. It is correct that we would get all new measures right before rolling them out. This will be the largest such fund application to be supported with significant co-financing being provided by Government. It is evidence of the emphasis given to providing relevant supports for those made redundant due to the adverse effects of globalisation and of significant work undertaken to ensure the most appropriate range of measures, as provided through this fund by co-financing. We have made a further application on behalf of redundant workers at Waterford Crystal and we are finalising a provisional application in regard to redundancies at SR Technics in Dublin Airport.

While I have no problem with any of our Members of the European Parliament seeking to associate themselves with this——

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