Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

I welcome Deputy Crawford's positive approach. It is important to acknowledge that this is an outstanding company and that the people losing their jobs are of the highest calibre. We must do everything possible to assist them. We should also keep in mind that 1,900 people are still employed by the company and that the administrators are confident these jobs can be sustained and hopefully expanded into the future. We must generate confidence in the company in order to ensure its ongoing viability.

I have put staff from all the industrial development agencies into the Border region. The IDA has been made acutely aware of the need to provide opportunities for those who will lose their jobs at Quinn Insurance. As staff take voluntary redundancy, the administrators will make available to the IDA and to Enterprise Ireland details of their skills and experience. The development agencies will tailor that to the jobs that can be created and the businesses that should be supported.

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