Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will understand, companies make decisions for strategic reasons and it is not for us to tell them what to do, or even to advise them. We are aware of the difficulties in which people find themselves but negotiations are continuing between the trade union and HCL on redundancy and transfer arrangements. IDA Ireland has performed very strongly over the past 12 months and I hope there will be opportunities in other companies or areas for the workers affected, or that HCL can deal with the matter in other ways. The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, and I will work very closely with IDA Ireland on this.

Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan represents her constituency and is very aware of what happens locally. Nobody wants a community to be affected by unemployment. We will work with IDA Ireland and the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to find a satisfactory solution. HCL has made a strategic decision and it is important that it continues to have a presence in the country.

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