Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies Lawless, Quinlivan, Coppinger and Heydon for raising this issue. Today's announcement by HP Inc. is very disappointing and distressing for the 500 employees of the company and for Leixlip and County Kildare. My immediate thoughts are with the workers and their families. Many of these men and women have been with this company for a long time, which makes this news even more difficult.

The Government and IDA Ireland have done everything possible to avert this decision. I have had contact with HP Inc.’s senior management. The IDA has been in intensive daily engagement with the company. Strong proposals were put forward to try and ensure the continuing presence of the business in Leixlip. Unfortunately, it was did not prove possible for HP Inc. to change course. The decision formed part of a wider global restructuring process - a commercial decision which was irreversible. This is a company-specific issue where HP Inc. is consolidating its core business.

I wish to make it clear that the decision by HP Inc. is purely a commercial one taken by the company. The company’s senior management has been adamant about this. It has nothing to do with Brexit, the new US Administration, lreland’s competitiveness or any other wider economic or geopolitical factor. Unfortunately, as we know from past experience in Ireland, global companies sometimes undertake strategic restructurings which involve the loss of jobs, as in this case.

In conclusion, I emphasise that I am committed to working with my Oireachtas colleagues in response to this.

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