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

I thank the Minister for her reply. The company has provided valued employment in Cork for the past quarter of a century or more. It started out as Sandoz in Ringaskiddy. That was the name it operated under for a number of years before becoming Novartis. The workers have valuable skills and experience, so there will be a market for them. First and foremost, however, the priority must be to work towards protecting the production capacity at the Novartis plant and keeping it operational. That is achievable and may well be done through some form of collaboration within the industry, for example, contract manufacturing. There is production capacity at the site, with a building that should now be used and marketed internationally. The IDA needs to do that.

I do not expect the Minister to have the answer to the contractors question now, but will she make inquiries and write to me? My understanding is that there are up to 200 contractors on site. Some have been there for between ten and 15 years. Their jobs are likely to be lost as well. Will the Minister please revert with details on this matter?

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