Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I join with Deputies in expressing concerns at the manner in which the news of this bombshell came out of the blue to the workforce at Coolock, where it is predicted that between 90 and 110 people will lose their jobs. For the workers selected for redundancy, it will be a dark day.

For almost 60 years, Cadbury in Coolock has been an iconic brand and provided good employment on the north side of Dublin. Recently, it was taken over by Mondelēz Ireland, part of the multinational Kraft Foods. The workforce of Cadbury has given sterling service to its company down the years. That workers' jobs will be gone when the lines they currently produce are transferred to Poland where there are lower wage costs is galling. This fact has added to their anger and to that of their colleagues in Tallaght and Rathmore.

There are also concerns that Mondelēz Ireland is planning to restructure the existing terms and conditions of employment, with the number of shifts with 12 lines being consolidated into six lines. Paradoxically, all of this has happened after a recent announcement of an investment by Mondelēz Ireland of €12 million in the Coolock plant.

Concern has been expressed to me regarding the future of the Cadbury pension fund and the position of retired workers currently in receipt of pensions. I understand that their positions are not secure under the transfer of undertakings (protection of employment), TUPE, legislation. Will the Minister clarify the situation?

I understand that the unions representing the workforce met Mondelēz Ireland's management yesterday and that further talks are planned. What can the Minister do to minimise the effect of the proposed redundancies on the wider community on the north side? What retraining and reskilling options will be made available to the redundant workers and will they receive assistance in accessing similar employment that uses the skills they have acquired?

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