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

I met them last night. They thought their jobs were secure as they had been given commitments. Bord na Móna is a Government agency. It was always an agent of the State to make sure there would be economic development in the regions, particularly those which did not enjoy significant foreign direct investment or other forms of economic development. Lisheen mines were closed. There has been a series of job losses in the Tipperary region, including, for example, at Procter and Gamble and this is a further body blow. There is a need for the Taoiseach, the Government and Bord na Móna to engage properly with the workers to extend the closure date and secure a proper redundancy package and proper economic opportunities in the region for them because they have been let down badly.

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