Dáil debates

Wednesday, 29 September 2021

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate

Food Industry

9:22 am

Photo of Barry CowenBarry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am glad of this opportunity to offer my commiserations and sympathies, and those of my constituents, to Glenisk, the Cleary family, their staff and their suppliers, as a result of the devastating blow inflicted on them by a major fire at the plant on Monday. I thank the staff for ensuring that everybody got out safely and the emergency services for the quick response and the manner in which they dealt with the issue. I met with Vincent Cleary and other staff at the site yesterday. They are shaken but resolute and resilient, as they have proven previously. It is a popular company and family. It is professional in the way in which it has grown the business to be world-renowned. It is a leader in its own field in the promotion of dairy and organics. It was in that field long before many others could even spell the word. It has acted as a mentor to many other people in my constituency and beyond. It is now time for that to be reciprocated in this hour of need for Glenisk and the Clearys. I was initially very proud of the reaction that I have seen in the community, locality and constituency, being the faithful people that we are, and even beyond that, nationally and internationally, and heard in the floods of support across the divide in the business sector.

I spoke with the Taoiseach's office yesterday. I know he has made contact with the company and managing director, ensuring them that the State will make every effort to assist in their hour of need. I use this opportunity to ask the Minister of State to assure me, the company and, by extension, our constituents, that the Government through its State authorities, the relevant Departments, whether the Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Agriculture, Food and the Marine, or Housing, Local Government and Heritage, which deals with planning, will ensure that arms of the State immediately come to the assistance of this company and provide it with every sort of help, assistance and expertise that is necessary for it to rebound and regain its place as a world-renowned company.

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