Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have had discussions with Mondelez at senior executive level and the company has committed to me that it will invest in its operation here with the aim of achieving best-in-class production processes. Enterprise Ireland has also been in contact with the company on a continuous basis regarding the assistance it could provide for restructuring to minimise job losses. The workplace relations services of my Department have also been actively engaged in this process.

Labour Court hearings between the company and the unions concerned took place on 9 October 2015. The Labour Court recommendation for the production personnel represented by Unite and SIPTU is to continue the negotiation process with management on headcount reduction, shift pattern changes, outsourcing and a two year pay deal over a four week period beginning on 29 October 2015. The management expect the unions will ballot their members in the coming weeks to determine support for the proposed changes.

The Labour Court recommendation for the electricians represented by TEEU and the fitters represented by the TEEU and Unite is for the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, to mediate between management and unions for a four week period beginning on 28 October 2015. Both parties have engaged with the mediation process in the WRC.

Immediately after the announcement by Mondelez, I established, as the Deputy has acknowledged, an inter-agency group to co-ordinate the response to the proposed job losses. The group, chaired by Enterprise Ireland, is seeking to secure alternative employment for Coolock, Tallaght and Rathmore and to ensure that departing workers have access to supports they need from State agencies for retraining, access to social welfare supports, access to advice on employment rights and access to advice and support for those workers who intend to start their own businesses.

I understand that the site in Tallaght will cease production in April 2016 with the severance and exit packages agreed. The company has engaged Penna O'Shea, the career transition provider, to assist the workforce in planning their future. Enterprise Ireland has visited the Tallaght site and will share the plant specification and worker profile with its clients. The plant specification and worker profile has also been shared with IDA Ireland. The inter-agency group has obtained agreement from SOLAS eCollege to offer any existing courses free of charge to all learners in Mondelez, Tallaght.

I have already directed Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland to step up their efforts to find alternative projects for the areas affected. I continue to monitor the situation very closely and I have arranged to meet the company representatives shortly.

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