Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this Topical Issue matter and I thank the Minister for attending in person. Today's announcement by Novartis represents a really significant blow to Cork, not only to the harbour area and the Carrigaline area, where I live. The workers come from all parts of Cork. That 320 employees, out of a total of 550, are affected is a measure of the scale of the reduction to the workforce that is to happen over the coming years. It is my understanding that there are a significant number of contractors on the site. The figure I have been given is between 150 and 200. If one of the two production buildings is to be shut down over the next two years or so, inevitably those contractors will lose their jobs also. Can the Minister provide any clarity on this? It is a key issue.

I spoke directly today to representatives of IDA Ireland and the company. I implore the Minister to make every effort to save the jobs. This happened before when Pfizer announced the closure of a plan in Loughbeg, Ringaskiddy. It was bought by a Portuguese company, Hovione, which continues to operate successfully there. More recently, GSK in Ringaskiddy, Cork, was acquired by Thermo Fisher, which prevented potential significant job losses also. There may well be a solution within the pharmaceutical industry. I ask the Minister to become directly involved with the company and IDA Ireland to ascertain whether a solution can be found. While 2022 is mentioned in the context of the losses at Novartis, 80 of the jobs affected are in the global service centre. Those redundancies will occur in the middle of next year. That is only six or seven months away for many of the workers. The redundancies will start next year and will conclude in 2022. This is not something that is way out in the distance; it affects individuals here and now. I ask the Minister to become directly involved. My party and I will do whatever we can to help her to achieve a resolution.

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