Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This, then, was not a matter of surprise. The Taoiseach set out what seems to be an extensive range of engagements involving the mine and various Ministers. I am at a loss as to why the Taoiseach is feigning surprise. It was clear to Government that the mine was under significant pressure. As a matter of fact, it has been reported in the media that the company had written to Government on 29 March to warn of the possibility of it ceasing operations. Clearly, the company had done the sums, as the Taoiseach said, but Government had not done the sums or its work. I am at loss to understand why, when the worst has happened, the Government has left it this late to intervene. It strikes me that a Minister or Ministers are asleep at the wheel. Of course, the objective has to be that apprentices get to finish out their apprenticeships and that this closure is temporary. Everything must be done to ensure that that is the case. However, the Government also has to answer the question as to why, when it knew the pressure that this company was under, it is only now that we are seeing action. We also need to know why the Government feigns surprise in a scenario that in fact, as the Taoiseach said, was not surprising at all.

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