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

I thank Deputy Joe Carey for raising this issue. His portrayal of the situation is accurate and balanced. Our first thoughts are with the workers in Roche in terms of the uncertainty they face. However, we have a good track-record in working on difficult issues like this one and I am confident for the future.

Last week's announcement of the company's intention to exit the plant was very disappointing. This factory has been in operation there since 1974, providing substantial employment since then, with the workforce now standing at 240 employees. The company is proposing to seek a buyer for the site.

The announcement by Roche that it is planning to exit the site and market it to alternative investors arises from a global review undertaken by the company, which has resulted in its focus for the future being on a pipeline of new products that are smaller scale rather than the large, blockbusting products that have been the pattern. That has given rise to substantial restructuring within the group, which as the Deputy indicated has resulted in the proposed exit from a number of Roche facilities in the USA, Spain and Italy.

The State agencies have a strong record in finding alternative employment in facilities earmarked for closure, in particular where there is a long lead-in time which allows the site to be marketed effectively. It is of note in this case that the company has not planned any redundancies and plans to continue operation for a considerable period. I have directed the agencies that no effort be spared in the search for an alternative investor for this facility.

I have also spoken to senior executives at the company on these issues. IDA Ireland has been engaging with the company for some time and will continue to engage with the company as it seeks to find a buyer for the plant. It is encouraging that in a number of similar situations where closures have been announced, the State enterprises have been able to find alternative investors, including the GSK-Stiefel case in Sligo, Pfizer-Amgen in Dún Laoghaire and J & J-Amneal in Tipperary. It is important also to remember the situation in Waterford where we had both the closure of TalkTalk, which resulted in the emergence of Eishtec, and the restructuring that was successfully negotiated in Bausch and Lomb.

I have directed the IDA to actively pursue a new buyer for the plant and it will work actively with the company, which is also committed to seeking a buyer. The IDA will draw up a detailed prospectus with the company. It will highlight the attractions of this facility for both its existing client companies and potential new investors who may be interested in such a facility. It will use its wide international network to highlight this opportunity. The gradual wind-down period will give a welcome window in which to pursue this objective.

Despite some challenges in the pharma sector in recent years in Ireland, it is worth pointing out that the sector has adapted very well to a fast-changing landscape. Between 2011 and 2014, employment numbers in the pharmaceutical and chemical sector have actually increased by 7%. In addition, the profile of the Irish industry has changed significantly with huge levels of investment having taken place by companies, and we now have a very impressive footprint in the growing biopharmaceutical sector in particular.

Since the launch of the National Action Plan for Jobs, we are seeing encouraging recovery in the mid-west region. There are 7,000 additional people at work in the region, which contrasts with the previous period of 20,000 job losses. We have also seen the start of a strong recovery in Clare. In 2014, an additional 700 people were at work in enterprises supported by the agencies of my Department: the IDA, Enterprise lreland and the local enterprise office. The live register in Clare also fell by 10% in the past 12 months. However, we recognise that there are opportunities to build on that and that is the reason we have developed the Mid-West Regional Action Plan, which includes counties Clare and Limerick. That was launched last month and has a comprehensive set of proposals both to increase the attraction of foreign direct investment but also to build on the strong employment base within the region already.

As the Deputy said, we have had a very strong flow of foreign investment and this plant represents an opportunity to attract new investors. I can assure the Deputy that no effort will be spared in my Department or through the agencies of my Department in pursuing new opportunities for the workforce and supporting the company in its plan to sell the plant as a going concern.

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