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

The Deputy does not want to hear that. I met the Deputy on two or three occasions in my Department with various groups. We met about the Lisheen quarry project.

We have also met about the recent closure of Coty. It is regrettable. It is terrible that 200 people lost their jobs there. I assure the Deputy that we are doing our best to ensure that site will be sold to a viable customer.

In regard to the evening that the announcement was made, it was made unknown to us in the Department. We certainly did not leak it, nor did the chief executive of Tipperary County Council. I have no idea where it came from. I apologise to the employees for the way they heard that news.

Amneal has now taken over the former J&J plant in Cashel. We will be looking to make sure that more jobs go to the regions, but that is what the Regional Action Plan for Jobs is all about. Whether the Deputy likes it or not, we are having considerable success.

However, I am ambitious. I myself am from the country and I want to see more jobs going to rural and regional areas.

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