Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I cannot stop the company from walking off the pitch. The Government does not give it grant aid. The Secretary General of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock, have met representatives of the company. The Minister, Deputy Bruton, and I have met representatives of the trade union. As we do not provide grant aid to the company, we have no power to block it from walking off. There has to be an emphasis on continuing to create new opportunities for the companies' workers and protect the circumstances that currently prevail. That will be done as part of the process of rebuilding our reputation at home and internationally. As Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton will continue to work on that. Although it is regrettable that Vodafone has decided to move these jobs to India and Egypt from the centres in counties Dublin and Louth, we will continue to strive to create new jobs by attracting new foreign direct investment and stimulating the indigenous economy.

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