Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I raise the shock announcement of the loss of 80 jobs at the B. Braun facility in Collooney in County Sligo. This is a hammer blow for the workers, their families and the entire community in Collooney, which is about 1,700 or 1,800 people. B. Braun has said it will retain a specialist research and development unit in Sligo so this may present an opportunity to resource and grow the research and development part of the business. There are also opportunities with linkages to the new Atlantic technological university. I ask the Taoiseach to raise this matter with the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment as he has a responsibility to help ensure, first and foremost, alternative employment opportunities for those who lost their jobs, as well as support for growing the research and development part of this business.

See this speech in context