Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. Many good things are happening in Drogheda with IDA Ireland. On 26 June, permission was given by Louth County Council for an advanced unit for new industry to come in. IDA Ireland owns 45 acres of land in Drogheda. There is the recent development of two data centres. Many good things are happening, but bad things are happening as well. The bad news for us is that 170 people, 110 early next year, will depart from Becton Dickinson and Company, which is a fantastic company. It is one of the major international, leading medical companies. That aggrieves me because, as one might guess, my first job 58 years ago was working in the office in Becton Dickinson and Company. I worked there for a year. It was a great company and there were great people there. It promoted local people within the company and internationally. Noel Harmon, who Deputy Nash's father would know, was on the international board of that company. It offered a lot to Drogheda and Drogheda has given it a lot.

My concern about this bad news is that there does not appear to be an early warning system. The Minister was not told about it in time. He could have told us and we could have attempted to persuade or approach people who might be able to help. Nevertheless, the fact is it has made the decision to go. The Minister will be visiting there next week. Perhaps there is a way it can be persuaded, even at this late stage, if there is any further or appropriate intervention we could make. At the heart of that company was a commitment to Drogheda. It was the first place it came to in Ireland. It aggrieves me greatly that it is leaving. We must leave no stone unturned. The pulse, the heartbeat of our State, be it the administrative or political system, must do their best to ensure we make another offer, if one has not been made already. If we cannot, we must work with them to get alternative, appropriate employment there. We need it badly now.

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