Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The total employment in IDA client companies in the Border region is only 8,721. In the south west, it is more than 47,000 and, in the mid-west, it is more than 25,000. As I have previously said, the figure for Dublin is 124,000. Sligo and the other counties in the region need and deserve very specific attention because those figures show a very clear disparity. The loss of these jobs has foregrounded something which the Deputies representing the area, particularly my colleague, Deputy Kenny, have been raising for a while, which is that disparity in treatment specifically with regard to the IDA. I also welcome the commitment given that the IDA and Enterprise Ireland are going to work together but this has been heard before. We need to see the Minister responsible, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, taking this on, leading on it and ensuring action to back up those words.

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