Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising what he rightly pointed out is an important issue. I am aware of the reports of a planned, temporary cessation of operations at the Analog Devices plant at Raheen in Limerick. I know many employees who work in what is a great company, with 1,200 or more employees in the region. As the Deputy rightly said, it is the European base of Analog Devices.

I want to emphasise to the Deputy that I understand the concerns in connection with this. I know well how important an employer Analog Devices is in the region. IDA Ireland has regular contact with the company. Our understanding in the Department remains that this is a short-term measure which is being implemented across Analog Devices' global sites and that there have been no long-term concerns raised over its Irish operation. Of course, the Government will continue to assess the wider situation and keep the matter under review. I understand that this measure is being implemented across the company's global sites due to the current uncertainty in the market arising from the tensions in the trading relationship between the US and China. Ireland is not the only country affected by this. While I appreciate the concerns that have been generated here, particularly around the mid-west region, it would not be appropriate for me to comment or speculate on an operational decision by a commercial entity. What is clear, however, is that trade-related measures taken in other states can have far-reaching effects beyond those borders. Consumers, suppliers, third party firms and most of all employees are all affected by such scenarios. That has been the situation with the case in hand.

Ireland's economy, as we all know, is outward-facing and export-orientated and reliant to a large degree on global foreign direct investment, FDI. While that serves us well in terms of employment and our economy, it also means we can feel the effects of geopolitical developments from time to time. We have all seen the effects of that in the mid-west and in other areas as well. The Department and I, as a Minister of State in the area, together with the enterprise agencies, IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, are monitoring the situation closely, as is our Embassy in Washington DC. The Department is also assessing any other direct and indirect implications for Irish based companies that may arise, especially given the broad and complex global value chains that underpin the operation of the information and communications technology and telecommunications sectors. While I appreciate recent events have been concerning, we need to remember, as the Deputy rightly said, that there is a lot of investment in the region. We know the situation remains fluid and the Government will continue to follow developments closely.

As the Deputy said, moreover in the mid-west region, the situation is good. There are many high quality jobs in IDA Ireland supported companies. Since 2010, the number of staff at IDA Ireland supported firms in Limerick has increase by 82% to almost 12,000 last year. Last year alone there were over 1,400 gross new jobs created by IDA Ireland companies in the region. In recent times we have seen significant investment announcements in the area from other top companies such as Edwards Lifesciences, Regeneron, STATS and Johnson & Johnson.

The overall trend in job creation in Ireland is extremely positive. The year 2018 was another record year for the State in FDI-driven employment and investment. This will continue strongly in the coming year. We are conscious of the situation worldwide, particularly with the trade war between the US and China and the situation between Huawei and the US. It is something that we are monitoring closely and as I said to the Deputy, I know that IDA Ireland is in close contact with the company in Limerick.

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