Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this most important issue. A significant employer in Dundalk, Vodafone, has in the past week or so announced significant job losses. At a time when job preservation is a clear priority everywhere, this is a serious blow to the town. Over 100 positions are to be lost because Vodafone is simply moving its operation out of the town to a location somewhere else across the globe where wages are apparently much lower. There will be a serious net loss for the local economy in Dundalk.

Dundalk is a trading town and the retail sector moves north or south depending on where the advantage lies. Consequently, jobs in this segment of the economy are always somewhat vulnerable. The loss of over 100 positions represents a major blow. Many of those employed felt they were in secure, reasonably well-paid employment and that they were in positions that would allow them to plan for the medium and longer term. Finding alternative employment is extremely difficult at this time.

The job losses are a very bad blow for Dundalk and it behoves the Government to focus on the town and County Louth as a whole. It must consider the industrial investment plans for the area and say to the locals that it realises the job losses represent a very severe blow. The town needs a replacement industry or employment opportunity as quickly as possible.

My clear understanding was that the outgoing Government had significant industrial projects in the pipeline for the town. I ask the Minister of State, Deputy John Perry, to elaborate on this and tell us when he expects those projects to be announced for Dundalk.

The local IDA Ireland office in the town is seriously undermanned. Owing to retirements, positions remain unfilled. While it is fine to call for the establishment of task forces, the reality is that the personnel employed in IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland are at the coalface of the efforts to attract foreign direct investment or investment generally to places such as the north east. If these offices are not manned and operating at full tilt, the prospect of industrial announcements and job creation will be somewhat diminished. I exhort the Minister of State to address this matter as quickly as possible with his Department. If the moratorium on recruitment is causing the blockage in the system, it needs to be addressed. We need to introduce flexibility to ensure senior management personnel are in the IDA Ireland and doing their best to ensure investment decisions are acted upon as quickly as possible.

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