Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

The economy is undergoing a difficult transformation. Some sectors grew to a scale that is not sustainable. As the Deputy knows, the construction sector grew to unsustainable levels. The task of Government is to help companies that have a viable future to create that future, but we must also look at companies that are not able to survive in their present form but can be helped to establish new spin-off business. We have seen many such companies being successful. Recently we had the very difficult experience in Waterford where a company, for all sorts of reasons that we know about, closed down. We have been working to try to redevelop that and we now have an indigenous enterprise, driven by Waterford-based people setting up a leading edge company and using many of the existing talents. That company has a strong future.

In some cases a transition has to happen. That is what we are seeking to support.

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