Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the response about State agencies and particularly the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. That is essential. I also urge that the Department of Social Protection provide a liaison because there are 90 households without an income today and this week. Everything is destroyed, including offices. Those people will need every assistance in the short term and hopefully the company can get back up and running again.

Glenisk is exactly the kind of company that we want in Ireland. It is a local company providing a service locally, providing jobs using local products. We talk a lot about the green economy but this is the green economy in action: organic yogurt, sourced locally, with low carbon miles. The Minister of State outlined the work that it has done in waste reduction. It ticks all the boxes. We spend a lot of time attracting companies. That is good, we should continue doing that and I am all for foreign direct investment where we can get it but here is a company on our doorstep. The will is there as is the workforce. We must move heaven and earth. We in this House have an obligation to provide our support for that and to encourage the Government, its Departments and their officials to leave no stone unturned to get this company back up and running. I want to emphasise and encourage the role of the Department of Social Protection. These workers need help in the short term and I encourage that if it can be given.

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