Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

Tara Mines is the biggest lead and zinc mine in Europe. It is one of the largest employers in Meath and its closure has been one of the biggest economic blows to the east midlands area for a long period of time. A key element of the closure was the fact that electricity prices in this country are the highest in Europe. Tara Mines management has given a plan to workers. That plan is a race to the bottom for income and terms and conditions. It seeks more than 200 redundancies and possibly reduces the working month to a three-week month for workers. Zinc in Meath is an Irish national resource. Tara Mines has made a handsome profit over the years from that resource and from the work of its staff over that period of time. Yet, the workers are now faced with a choice between the full closure of the mine or damaging and painful concessions at Tara Mines. What material actions has the Taoiseach taken in the last seven months to protect the workers in Tara Mines?

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