Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for the briefing. What are the chances of reversing these appalling job cuts in Coolock? It is clear that there were extensive contacts between the Minister's Department, the IDA and Enterprise Ireland and Mr. Justin Cook, managing director of Mondelēz Ireland, during the past two years. If so, why was last week's announcement made in such a particularly shocking and cruel way? Why was more not done to stop these job losses?

Following Kraft Food's takeover of Cadbury in 2010, Kraft Food made certain commitments. For example, we were told that the plant in Coolock was so efficient that it beat off another in Bristol to be maintained. If it was so cost effective then, why are we now grappling with this situation and being told of cost issues? Many of the other countries that are famous for producing chocolate, for example, Belgium and Switzerland, are high-cost, high-wage economies. There seems to be a gap in what the company is saying.

Our first concern is for the workers who are being made redundant, the conditions applied, whether their redundancies will be voluntary and what their pension entitlements and the entitlements of those who have retired beforehand will be. What has the Minister done to secure these entitlements?

As Deputy Terence Flanagan stated, Cadbury is an iconic name on Dublin's north side, specifically in the five Coolock parishes and the other parishes in Kilbarrack, Donaghmede, Edenmore, Raheny and Airfield. Thousands of families have been supported by the company for many generations. Often, the key breadwinners were women. They valued Cadbury for that. Since 1964 when the Coolock facility opened, it has played a major role in our country.

The figures that the Minister provided for the number of remaining jobs do not seem to add up with what the company is saying. It refers to 700 jobs whereas the Minister seems to be saying it will be fewer than 400 at Coolock and Rathmore in County Kerry. Will the Minister clarify the figure?

Last Thursday was a sad day for Coolock. As someone who has represented the area for nearly 35 years, will the Minister revert to us with some strong suggestions for the future of the area?

See this speech in context