Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

Media reports are obviously not definitive on decisions a company might make on restructuring and job losses. Nonetheless, they raise concerns for the employees. Aviva will remain a dominant player in the Irish insurance market, even if it halves its workforce, as there are over 2,000 people currently employed by the company. That does not mitigate the fact, however, that there is major concern and there must be strong engagement with IDA Ireland and the Department prior to any restructuring. Waiting for restructuring means one thing only; the decision has been made at corporate level. It is then too late for active engagement with the agency and the Department.

We understand the pressures in the insurance and assurance markets, the financial services industry, as well as call centres, given recent job losses in Waterford and the concerns expressed about Rigney Dolphin in that county. The only way the anxiety and concern can be alleviated is through a definitive decision being made by the company as quickly as possible. Engagement with the Department and IDA Ireland prior to the review being completed is the obvious thing to do, as opposed to waiting until such time as the company has announced its restructuring, when it will be too late to do anything.

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