Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing my colleague, Deputy Ó Caoláin, and me to raise this issue. I welcome the Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton, to the Chamber to respond to the debate. I also welcome John Regan of SIPTU and several members of the Lagan Brick workforce who are in the Gallery for this discussion.

The town of Kingscourt has a catchment area comprising parts of three counties, namely, Cavan, Meath and Monaghan. As such, this issue has exercised Deputy Ó Caoláin, Senator Thomas Byrne and me. Setting aside the decision itself, the way in which the company conveyed the news to the workforce was entirely unacceptable. On the evening of 14 December, two shop stewards were told the plant was closing forthwith, with the other 25 employees being informed several days later. This clearly constitutes a contravention of the 30 day notice period provided for in the Protection of Employment Acts. SIPTU has written directly to the Minister, Deputy Bruton, seeking his comments on this issue. The employees want to retain their jobs and to see the maximum number of jobs secured at the Kingscourt facility. The issue is under consideration at a conciliation conference of the Labour Relations Commission, and we all hope progress will be made.

There is a 100 year tradition of brick manufacturing in Kingscourt, where there were originally two brick yards. The one we are referring to was established in the 1930s and has earned a reputation for producing brick of the highest quality. I visited the factory two years ago in the context of the then employment subsidy scheme, where I met the local management and the workforce. The workers indicated that day their determination to bring about the efficiencies and improved productivity necessary to ensure the plant would remain viable. When the downturn in the construction sector came, the company fought hard to win new export markets, particularly in Britain. The workers are determined to do their utmost to bring about even greater efficiencies. They have already done so in the past 18 months to two years, with all workers taking a wage cut and 25 employees until recently doing the work done previously by 35. That is a measure of the additional productivity achieved. I appeal to the Minister to use every available opportunity to ensure the plant resumes production and the existing jobs are maintained and protected.

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