Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I know he is very familiar with this issue, having first discussed it with me and other Deputies in Louth last summer, in respect of the announcement by Vodafone at that stage regarding jobs in Dundalk. If workers are to transfer to Newry, there will be personal taxation and PRSI implications for them and for the State. My understanding is that their tax liabilities will be paid in that jurisdiction. I have been working on this issue for the past week. Most, if not all, the workers would prefer to see their taxation going towards the provision of local schools, hospitals and other services. I implore the Minister of State to closely examine the call and support centre sector which is at risk. By its very nature this is a footloose industry and an industry which has tended to look to lower cost economies in recent years. A significant number of people are employed in the call and support centre sector and it is incumbent on us to support them as best we can. In a globalised economy companies will make decisions based on their own bottom line. We have an obligation to our citizens to protect their jobs, their terms and conditions and to ensure they and their companies have a future in this State. I ask the Minister of State to take on that challenge with other relevant Ministers and carry out a comprehensive review, looking at the underlying factors, in order to ensure this does not happen again.

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