Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for choosing the issue of job losses at Barford Meats Limited in Carrickmacross for debate on the Adjournment. I met worker representatives and the union representing the factory workers, SIPTU, last week regarding the closure of the company, which is to result in the loss of 82 jobs. These losses include seven that took place earlier in the year, in the belief that the company would have an opportunity to restructure itself financially. It was believed that the seven workers would come back within a six month period to a company that had reshaped itself. Ten workers are due to lose their jobs this Friday and 65 workers lost their jobs last Friday week. While those who believed they would regain their jobs were waiting for the scene to improve, matters got worse and the company lost its contract to supply one of its major overseas purchasers, one of the big supermarket chains.

The workers in Carrickmacross have remained very loyal to the company and did without wages when it was going through tough times. Rumours started a month ago that the company was in difficulty and on Wednesday last week the staff demanded answers. They received answers they did not want to hear. The company had been a very good employer in the town for the previous 25 years and many workers had worked for it for in excess of 20 years. Effectively they are not qualified to do any other work and, therefore, will need retraining and support. A task force should be set up by the Minister to achieve this and to ensure the workers find other jobs.

Regrettably, the record of IDA Ireland in creating jobs during the past seven years is not good. Carrickmacross should be sold on the basis that it is accessible to Dublin. The bypass, which is being built ahead of schedule and was not due until next year, makes Carrickmacross accessible from Dublin and Belfast. As the town is situated between two airports, the area should attract new industries. The loss of these jobs will not only have a serious impact on families financially in terms of mortgages and so on, but it will represent a loss of approximately €30,000 per week to a small town like Carrickmacross.

Workers in these circumstances should have some protection, as should employers. If there are early warning systems in place and if companies are prepared to draw attention to problems at an early stage, Government mentoring programmes could be set up. Monaghan, in particular, has many small indigenous industries which have grown significantly, delivering services worldwide. Houses are delivered from County Monaghan to China and throughout the world. Bar furniture is delivered to capital cities throughout Europe and across the United States. These companies, which began on a small basis, are in competition with big companies throughout the world. If they get into trouble it can hit home very quickly. In some instances, these companies can become victims of their own success, and this can happen at an alarmingly fast rate. There should be a mechanism whereby people can indicate they are in trouble.

After 20 years' service, statutory redundancy is all the workers in the company are offered. This would cost the company €500,000 in total. If the workers received statutory redundancy, plus two weeks' pay for each year they worked, it would not be an unreasonable demand for a company that has a sizeable amount of assets. Companies should be asked to sell their assets to ensure the workers who created the wealth are looked after? It is not an unreasonable demand that the workers should receive in excess of the statutory redundancy.

Michael Ahern (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Connolly for raising this matter on the Adjournment. I am aware that you, a Cheann Comhairle, have a personal interest in the matter, as has the Minister of State, Deputy Brendan Smith. I believe all the Deputies from Cavan-Monaghan have an interest in the matter. The company was formed in 1984 to produce fresh and frozen meat products. It encountered difficulties during the BSE crisis and the foot and mouth outbreak. The sterling exchange rate has recently exacerbated these problems and, as a result, the company ceased operations on 12 November 2004.

Enterprise Ireland has been working closely with the company over the past 18 months with a view to identifying outside investors who would bring much needed investment to the business. At Enterprise Ireland's urging, a business mentor was appointed in May 2003 to review the financial situation and provide strategic guidance to the company. Resulting from this involvement, the company embarked on a restructuring exercise in September 2004. It was thought at the time that this would facilitate the survival of the business. Enterprise Ireland expects to meet shortly the owner of the company to discuss the future situation. Enterprise Ireland is of the opinion that there may be a number of potential investors interested in acquiring the assets and business of Barford Meats Limited. Enterprise Ireland would work with any new buyer and consider new proposals to develop the business.

I understand that a representative from the FÁS office in Dundalk, together with a representative of the local enterprise service, met unions and management at Barford Meats Limited. Approximately 34 members of the workforce were spoken to and provided with information. A list of the current job vacancies in the area was supplied together with appropriate registration forms. I understand that individual interviews are taking place in the offices of the Department of Social and Family Affairs in Carrickmacross.

Enterprise Ireland continues to work closely with its client companies in Monaghan and the local business community in the county to foster new business development. In 2003, Enterprise Ireland approved almost €3.5 million in support of projects for its client companies in the county and to date in 2004, Enterprise Ireland has approved over €1.7 million.

As part of its role in regional development, the Enterprise Ireland regional office in Dundalk works with other regional organisations and third level institutions to improve the business climate at regional level for clients and to influence the conditions in which growth in the north-east region is established and sustained. The development of community-based enterprise centres is a crucial part of the drive to create new regional enterprise through the provision of infrastructural facilities to support the establishment and expansion of micro-enterprises through local community participation. Enterprise Ireland has supported the development of five community enterprise centres in the county.

Enterprise Ireland is currently involved in a range of initiatives in the county, which include an INTERREG funded cross-Border project specifically for the furniture industry. A number of County Monaghan furniture companies have applied to be accepted on the project. This project will involve eight southern companies and eight Northern Ireland companies participating in a two year programme, looking primarily at the issue of design and innovation.

Enterprise Ireland is also working with the Armagh-Monaghan Digital Corridor Project Committee. The objective of this committee is to develop the Armagh and Monaghan areas into a cluster of information and communication technology related industries. IDA Ireland participates in this initiative, which is geared at encouraging enterprises with a requirement for advanced telecommunications to locate on both sides of the Border where the telecommunications networks, both North and South, can be accessed. IDA Ireland is actively marketing County Monaghan on an ongoing basis as a location for foreign direct investment, through its network of overseas offices, to secure new investment and jobs for the area. IDA Ireland is working closely with local authorities and third level colleges to deliver the best solution. I assure the Deputy that the State agencies will continue to promote Monaghan for new investment and jobs.

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle as deis a thabhairt dom an t-ábhar tábhachtach seo a thógáil ar an Athló. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht a bheith i láthair. Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire ar ais go dtí an Dáil an tseachtain seo. Chuir sé isteach go mór orainn an timpist a bhí aige atá seachtain ó shin ach tá lúcháir orainn gur éirigh leis éalú slán. Tá súil orm gur gairid go mbeidh sé i mbarr a shláinte arís.

Tá mé cinnte go bhfuil a fhios ag an Aire go maith an cás fá monarcha Nuvotem. Tá an mhonarcha suite i gCroithlí agus is minic a chuaigh an tAire thar doras ansin agus é ar a gcuairteanna rialta ar Thír Chonaill, agus go speisialta ar Ghaeltachtaí an iar-thuaiscirt. Tá monarcha lonnaithe ansin le breis agus 100 bliain. Tá Nuvotem lonnaithe ansin le 23 bliain, ó 1980.

Buille mór an nuacht seo dos na hoibrithe, agus buille nach raibh siad ag súil leis. Ar 20 Meán Fhomhair dúradh leo go riabh siad á ligint chun bealaigh, go sealadach mar a dúradh ag an am. Tá 11 seachtain imithe ó shin agus tá sé ag cur isteach go mór ar na hoibrithe cad é atá i ndán dóibh. Is beag cumarsáide agus is beag eolais atá le fáil ón gcomhlacht, comhlacht a d'oibrigh siad dó go dícheallach agus go dian ar a shon le blianta anuas.

A lán des na hoibrithe seo, is iad na príomh daoine atá ag saothrú ina gcuid teaghlaigh féin agus tá costaisí agus freagrachtaí orthu maidir le morgáistí agus costais eile. Anois, tá an Nollaig buailte linn agus gan a fhios acu an mbeidh siad ag dul ar ais ag obair nó nach mbeidh. Sin an rud is mó atá ag cur isteach orthu, go bhfuil siad coinnithe ins an dorchadas agus nach bhfuil a fhios acu cad é atá i ndán dóibh. An mbeidh siad ag dul ar ais ag obair nó nach mbeidh?

Tógadh an cheist ag Údarás na Gaeltachta. Thóg mé féin an cheist sa Dáil agus thóg daoine eile í ag an gcomhairle condae. Ach is beag eolais atá faighte agus is beag dul chun cinn atá déanta agus trí mhí imithe.

Nuvotem Crolly is one of the longest established industries in the Donegal Gaeltacht, producing electrical coils and transformers since 1980. It came as a bombshell to the workers on 3 September last that 43 out of a total workforce of 56 were to be laid off until further notice. Many of these workers have given more than 20 years of dedicated and loyal service to the company but have been in a virtual limbo during the past 11 weeks since the decision to have them temporarily laid off.

Since then, it has been almost impossible to get any response from the company. Communications between management and employees are non-existent. This is leading to frustration, anxiety and uncertainty among the workers. The company has two other production centres, one in the Czech Republic and one in India, where production costs are lower than here. However, the Crolly workers have built up tremendous skills and experience over the years and industrial relations in the factory were unblemished and second to none. The employees have foregone a number of wage increases in recent years. The burning question is whether the workers should hold out in the hope of getting their jobs back or seek new employment opportunities. At present they are in the dark.

We are now in the run-up to the Christmas season when there are huge financial demands on parents and families. These 43 workers, many of them the sole breadwinner in their family, are under severe pressure. They need to know what the future holds for them. I ask the Minister, in conjunction with Údarás na Gaeltachta and the management, to break the present impasse. It is intolerable that the situation should be allowed to drift.

Bheinn iontach buíoch don Aire fá aon rud a thig leis le dóchas a thabhairt do na daoine seo iad a chur ar ais ag obair nó malairt fostaíochta a fháil dóibh agus an Nollaig buailte linn.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Mac Fhionnlaoich as ucht na bhfocal deamhéin a bhí aige dom. Mar is eol don Teachta Mac Fhionnlaoich, tá Nuvotem Teo i mbun déantúsaíochta i gCroithlí ó 1979 agus tá an comhlacht ag tairgeadh transfhoirmitheoiri nó Toroidal Transformers don earnáil teileachumarsáide-leictreonaice.

Tá an comhlacht seo, maron le dhá chomhlacht eile, ceann i bPoblacht na Seice agus ceann eile san Ind, agus oifig dhíolacháin sa Ghearmáin, mar chuid den ghrúpa idirnáisiúnta Talema. Is fochuideachta 100% de chuid Nuvotem é an comhlacht i bPoblacht na Seice agus tá mionscairshealbhaíocht 1% ag Nuvotem san Ind. Tá an gnó sa tSeic agus san Ind á bhainistiú ag Nuvotem.

Chuir Nuvotem fostaíocht mhaith ar fáil i nGaeltacht Dhún na nGall, i gceantar Ghaoth Dobhair agus na Rosa, ón am ar bunaíodh é go dtí le gairid. Ní i bhfad tar éis an comhlacht a bhunú bhí an leibhéal fostaíochta os cionn 70 agus d'fhan sé ag an leibhéal sin ar feadh scór bliain, ag sroicheadh buaicphointe de 114 post i lár na nóchaidí.

D'íoc Údarás na Gaeltachta €1.531 milliún i ndeontais leis an gcuideachta thar an thréimhse 1979 go dtí 1995. Níor íocadh aon deontas ó shin. Rinne an t-údarás infheistíocht €780,889 i scaireanna tosaíochta sa chuideachta freisin. Caithfidh mé a threisiú gur scaireanna tosaíochta iad seo gan aon cheart vótála, rud a chiallaíonn nach bhfuil aon chearta ag an údarás ó thaobh bhainistiú nó riaradh na cuideachta ó lá go lá. Is ag gnáthscairshéalbhóirí na cuideachta amháin atá na cearta sin. Rinne an infheistíocht deireanach i scaireanna tosaíochta sa chomhlacht i 1998.

Ag breithniú ar an bhfostaíocht mhaith a cuireadh ar fáil thar na blianta, níl aon amhras ann ach go bhfuarthas luach maith ar infheistíocht an Stáit sa chomhlacht seo.

Maidir leis an staid reatha, ar an gcéad dul síos caithfear a aithint go bhfuil an chuideachta ag feidhmiú in earnáil atá thar a bheith leochaileach sa tír seo i láthair na huaire mar gheall ar an gcoimhlint ghéar ó thairgeóirí atá ag feidhmiú i dtíortha le costais táirgíochta i bhfad níos ísle. Ní amhain go bhfuil an margadh dá tháirge ag laghdú le roinnt blianta anuas ach tá an brabús ag laghdú chomh maith.

Tá 58 fostaithe san iomlán i gcomhlacht Nuvotem faoi láthair idir 15 fostaithe go lánaimseartha ag cur seirbhísí teicniúla, díolacháin agus riaracháin ar fáil don ghrúpa agus 43 fostaithe in obair táirgíochta i gCroithlí. Tá an 15 phost seo mar chuid thábhachtach de riaradh agus bhainistiú an ghrúpa agus is postanna tábhachtacha iad seo don cheantar freisin.

Maidir leis an bhfoireann táirgíochta, áfach, tuigim go bhfuil na daoine seo leagtha as a gcuid oibre le deich seachtain anuas agus tá cúrsaí fostaíochta ag brath ar orduithe a bheith ar fáil don aonad táirgíochta i nDún na nGall. Tuigim chomh maith go bhfuil an chuideachta tar éis glacadh le hiarratas le gairid ó ochtar den fhoireann táirgíochta i leith íocaíochtaí reachtúla iomarcaíochta.

Mar is eol don Teachta, tá coimhlint ghéar in earnáil na déantúsaíochta le roinnt blianta anuas agus tá poist á gcailliúint ar fud na tíre seo dá réir, na ceantair Ghaeltachta san áireamh. Cé nach bhfuil aon smacht ag Údarás na Gaeltachta ar riaradh na cuideachta seo, mar atá soiléirithe agam níos tuisce, bíonn caidreamh rialta ag feidhmeannas an údaráis le bainistíocht Nuvotem chun scrúdú a dhéanamh ar na féidearthachtaí atá ann maidir le hinmharthanacht an chomhlachta a chinntiú.

Tá curtha in iúl ag bainistíocht an chomhlachta don údarás go bhfuil tréan-iarrachtaí ar siúl ag Nuvotem chun orduithe a aimsiú a chuirfidh ar a gcumas táirgeadh a athbhunú sa mhonarcha i gCroithlí. Deir an bhainistíocht chomh maith go bhfuil sí dóchasach orduithe a chuirfidh ar a gcumas é seo a dhéanamh a aimsiú san earrach seo chugainn.

Tugadh figiúirí dom a thaispeáint na difríochtaí idir na scálaí pá sa tSeic agus sa tír seo. Is fadhb í seo agus ní bheadh éinne sa tír seo sásta agus ní bheadh sé dleathach oibre ar an gcineál pá atá i gceist. A fhad is go bhfuil iomaíocht mar sin ar bun, beidh fadhbanna ag an gcineál seo déantúsaíochta. Tá súil agam go bhfaighfear tairgí breise ach caithfimid tuiscint nach bhfuil mórán go díreach gur féidir leis an údarás a dhéanamh ach leanúint ar aghaidh bheith ag plé leis an mbainistíocht agus iarracht a dhéanamh dul i malairt threo go ginearálta sa nGaeltacht agus fostaíochta níos buaine nua aimseartha a aimsiú.