Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for raising this matter. It is extremely disappointing to hear 320 jobs will be lost across two sites operated by Novartis in Ringaskiddy, particularly following the announcement yesterday that Molex is to close its facility in Shannon, resulting in 500 jobs losses there by the end of 2020.

As I have said before, our immediate concern, whenever jobs are lost or are under threat at any firm in the country, is for the employees who will be directly affected. I assure the House that every form of State assistance and support will be made available to them. These supports will include assisting the workers in getting alternative employment and helping them to re-skill to ensure that they do so.

Novartis has informed IDA Ireland that the decision to make these redundancies is part of a company global restructuring and consolidation strategy. We understand that the firm will be relocating some manufacturing roles to contract sites and some business services positions elsewhere in Europe and to Asia. While it does not change the fact that valuable jobs will be lost, it is important to recognise that the redundancies at the Novartis firm will take place over the next three years: 60 in 2020, 80 in 2021 and 180 in 2022. That does, at least, provide time in which intensive efforts can be made to offset some of these future job losses through the creation of new employment opportunities in the Ringaskiddy and Carrigaline areas. We should remember also that both of the companies will continue operating in Ireland, with at least 210 employees once all the planned redundancies have taken effect. We are optimistic that, in time, the firms will be able to scale back up to their current employment footprint in Ringaskiddy.

Novartis has assured IDA Ireland that its other operations in Dublin will not be impacted by its restructuring plan.

Ireland has a strong biopharmaceutical industry, with virtually all of the world's leading firms having a presence here. As Deputy McGrath will be aware, a number of those companies are also present in Ringaskiddy and the wider Cork area, for example, Pfizer, GE Healthcare, Janssen Sciences and BioMarin. This means that we can be confident that we will be able to find new job opportunities for the impacted workers.

Every effort will be made to work with the company to see whether there are new opportunities. Sometimes when things change, one finds that there are opportunities for companies to create more investment and jobs in a region. I assure the Deputies that IDA Ireland will do everything it can to engage with the company on examining options and maximising what is available in Ringaskiddy. My door is always open and I am happy to work with Deputies and hear their views or new ideas on what we can do to help.

When it comes to job losses, we all know what it is like for workers. One cannot imagine what is going through their heads when they hear about it or the uncertainty they are facing, especially coming up to Christmas. They are worried about how they will pay their bills and mortgages. It is difficult for them, and it takes time for them to come to terms with it. Every public representative in the House supports the workers and we will all do what we can to ensure that there are more opportunities and jobs for them.

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