Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his reassurance that IDA Ireland is in close contact with the company. I want to ask the Minister of State a couple of questions. He says this will be a short-term close down. What evidence does he have to support that? There is a great deal of uncertainty out there. The reality is that people do not know whether this will be short-term or otherwise. The Minister of State cited the figure of 1,400 gross jobs being created last year. The number of jobs lost has to be deducted from that, which was in the region of 200 to 250. At one fell swoop this will wipe out all those gains and do more damage because it is 1,200 direct jobs and a great many more that we cannot count at the moment. We cannot assess the amount of jobs that will be lost indirectly. In his recent discussions with US President Trump, did the Taoiseach raise the issue of how decisions being taken by his Government are affecting investment in our region, which is heavily dependent on foreign direct investment, particularly from the United States, of which the Minister of State is as aware as I am?

See this speech in context