Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Maith an fear. The programme for Government commits the Government to creating regional jobs plans. In this context, the news that 500 jobs are to be lost at the HP Inc. facility in Leixlip is devastating for the local community and for the workers and their families. When did the Government know that this move was to be taken by the company? What action, if any, did the Government take last October when the company announced that it intended to cut between 3,000 and 4,000 jobs globally? What efforts were made to persuade the company not to close? The decision to split the company in two is a device that is used by multinationals to minimise disruption to their profit margins. It has been suggested that these jobs will be transferred overseas. Does the Government know to where these jobs are being relocated? Is the new location within the EU? If so, will the Government investigate whether the EU globalisation fund can be accessed? Can the Taoiseach spell out for the families that are reeling from this morning's news the immediate steps the Government will take to prioritise new investment in this region and to protect the workers' statutory rights?

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