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

On the Government's Twitter account, #allaboutjobs, it is notable that the Minister trumpets when new jobs arrive but he tells us nothing when there are serious job losses. On overall job figures, the Government mentions 126,000 jobs created, which is way below the total level of employment in late 2007 or early 2008. The Government is still a long way off that mark.

Is the Minister hopeful, from the initiatives taken by the inter-agency group, that these jobs can be protected, which is the key desire of our constituents and their families? What other assistance can the Minister give to ensure that the promised investment in the plants will happen as soon as possible and that we could look forward to a positive future?

Has the Department done anything in relation to the protection of iconic Irish brands, given the kind of attack on branded products in recent times and the difficulty of maintaining clear brands in the food area? All Irish food products are under this kind of threat from the German multiples and other companies.

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