Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this most important matter to the significant workforce in Dundalk and in Dublin. A total of 193 employees, both part-time and full-time, in Dundalk will be directly affected by this proposal to move employees to Teleperformance. It has been suggested they may go to Newry or to Dublin but the fear is that they may be moved to Newry. The local economy benefits to the tune of approximately €4.5 million annually from the salaries and payments coming from Vodafone in Dundalk. This equates to some €90,000 a week coming into the local economy. Jobs in the services sector will also be affected because of the reduced spending power of employees at a time when the domestic economy is quite flat. The employees comprise of married and single people and many have mortgage responsibilities. I refer to a letter from one employee, Mr. Pickering, who stated he had bills to pay and he planned to be married soon. He has been informed his team is moving to Dublin but he does not drive and it is 50 miles to Dublin from Dundalk. He has been working in Vodafone for nearly ten years and he now faces a dilemma. The workers have been told that in September or October of this year, there will be nobody left in the building.

Dundalk town has already been devastated by job losses. I welcome the news that PayPal will create significant employment in Dundalk but Vodafone has provided invaluable employment in the town. I appeal to the Minister of State to take a serious look at the underlying reasons for the proposal to move either to Newry or to an alternative location. This has profound implications for the local Dundalk economy and it will undermine the confidence of those who might be contemplating setting up in the town. I ask the Minister of State to meet with the union representatives and also the public representatives in the constituency to discuss the details of this issue to impress on Vodafone the necessity to reconsider the decision and to ensure it does not happen again.

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