Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I thank the Chair for allowing me to join colleagues from my constituency of Cavan-Monaghan and across the region in contributing on this issue. I concur with the voices which have already recorded the fact that we have worked in unison for a full 12 months in support of the retention of all jobs in Quinn Insurance Limited where they are currently located, critically focused on Cavan, Enniskillen, Blanchardstown and other locations where the company has established operations.

Our concerns in regard to Quinn Insurance have been compounded by the decision of Anglo Irish Bank to take into its control the Quinn family shares over the wider Quinn manufacturing entities. We are no longer only concerned in regard to the jobs within Quinn Insurance but across the Quinn group, which is a multiple in real terms of the people directly employed and the wider community dependent on those incomes. We need an absolute assurance concerning all the existing jobs, where they are currently located, in order to sustain our local and regional economies.

Our purpose tomorrow in meeting the Minister, Deputy Michael Noonan, is to secure clarity on whatever guarantees he has received in regard to the preferred bidder and the further steps that have been taken by Anglo Irish Bank. There are still real concerns which we must address. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleague Deputies of all parties in support of the retention of the jobs created by the Quinn family over many years where they are currently located within our respective counties.

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