Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach for his reply but he might clarify further. This is quite a good company. Hewlett Packard employed quite a significant number of people over a long period. That has to be put on the record. The Taoiseach did seem to indicate, however, that the Minister spoke to the company last week. Will the Taoiseach outline when the Minister met the company and how many times she has met the company since last October? There was an announcement last October that the company was going to shed 3,000 to 4,000 jobs globally in a rationalisation programme when it divided the two companies into Hewlett Packard Enterprise and HP Inc.

Clearly, there were fears for Leixlip as a result of that announcement.

Did the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation travel to Palo Alto to meet Hewlett Packard executives between October and last week? If so, will the Taoiseach outline the content of those discussions? Invariably, when one sector of business is under pressure, other opportunities open up for the future. Were any commitments given by HP in this regard? Is the Government, through IDA Ireland, pursuing any particular new areas of investment that could replenish the jobs that have been lost at the HP Inc. plant in Leixlip? It is important we have clarification regarding the efforts the Minister has made in terms of meeting with executives since October to source new activity for the Leixlip plant.

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