Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)

It is unfortunate that an issue such as this brings me to my feet for the first time in the House. I will address the issue of my election by the people of counties Cavan and Monaghan and pay tribute to my predecessor, the former Deputy Seymour Crawford, at a later stage. I will use the limited time afforded to me this evening to highlight the importance of protecting jobs at Quinn Direct and the Quinn Group.

As somebody who worked in Ballyconnell for eight years, I fully understand and appreciate the huge contribution made by Sean Quinn not only to the Cavan area, but to the entire Border region. Sean Quinn and others made the Border region not just a geographic entity, but also an economic reality. In doing so, they afforded people the opportunity to work and live in their own community.

Sean Quinn readily admits that he made mistakes and is now facing the consequences of those mistakes. However, it is only appropriate to outline the legacy of real and lasting employment that he brought to our region. This is an achievement that should not be forgotten.

A cross-party Oireachtas group met with Sean Quinn last Friday. It was clear to those attending that despite his personal financial problems, Sean Quinn's primary concern was the continued employment of his staff. As a Deputy for Cavan-Monaghan, this is also my primary concern and priority. I cannot emphasise enough the critical importance to the local economy of maintaining jobs in Quinn Direct and the wider Quinn Group. The fears of Quinn Group workers must be understood and taken into account by the new management structure. It is imperative that the existing business model, which has served the company well, is maintained.

With regard to the debt restructuring plan agreed in principle between Anglo Irish Bank and the Quinn Group lenders, it is my hope that this structure will enable the good businesses of the Quinn Group to continue to flourish. The businesses in question and their employees have faced a long period of ambiguity. That a level of certainty has now been brought to this matter must be welcomed.

I welcome, too, the fact that an insurance company of such standing as Liberty Mutual is seeking to invest in Ireland via Quinn Insurance. The single most important outcome of this deal is that almost all 1,500 jobs in Quinn Direct will be retained. I urge the Minister to continue to monitor the matter closely to ensure the retention and security of jobs in the group.

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