Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The news of the likely closure of the Motorola plant with the loss of more than 300 jobs will represent an economic body blow to the Cork area. These are not old-style jobs in heavy industry, but jobs based in the knowledge economy. During his visit to Cork last week with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Taoiseach lauded the knowledge economy as the cornerstone of the new Ireland. The knowledge economy is an area that has contributed very significantly to Ireland's economic growth over the past 15 years. This is part of an increasing pattern we have seen in the Cork area, with companies like this choosing to relocate to Asia or other regions where labour and other costs are lower. There are very few companies of similar size and skill requirements in Cork and it is likely that those who are about to lose their jobs will need to move elsewhere to look for jobs of a similar nature. This will worsen the economic consequences of the loss of such a plant.

The real tragedy is that I understand the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, had warnings since the beginning of the year from a number of sources that the plant was in jeopardy, but he appears to have done nothing. It would appear that Motorola decided to put all its work out to tender and its plants around the world tendered for different projects. It would appear that the project work being done by Motorola in Cork will go to Malaysia. The company in Malaysia put together a package which included incentives, labour costs, tax and all the other things we normally offer and it won out.

The Minister was told from an early date that the plant had a difficulty. Although he was contacted on several occasions by employees and other outside interested agencies, he did nothing. He did the usual, replying that the query would be dealt with. However, it was not dealt with. Nobody approached Motorola to ask how we could put together a package to ensure that Motorola stayed in Cork and save these jobs. There is now a severe threat to these jobs. These people with highly skilled high-tech jobs will move on. Dublin is the centre for high-tech jobs in Ireland and we will not be able to keep these people in Cork, which has nothing to keep them there.

I call on the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to take immediate action in response to this news. I hope it is not too late. The Minister should have done something much sooner. He must be pro-active in ensuring that job losses are kept to an absolute minimum. He should have taken action at the start of January. It emerged in recent days that the company, as part of a consortium, was awarded preferred bidder status for a massive €250 million Government contract. The contract relates to the construction of a secure national digital radio network to be used by the Garda and other emergency services, which is urgently needed. The timing of that announcement was of no help to the company. If it ultimately gets the contract I wonder where these items will now be manufactured.

I would like to read into the record a letter sent to the Minister on 4 January which states:

I was wondering if you are aware that Motorola Ireland, in Cork is on the verge of closing down? [The employees have told me that] they do not have any projects to work on for the last few months.

Most of their existing work has been transferred to Motorola units in Asia and it is common perception amongst the employees that complete closure will be announced within the next month.

As you know, Motorola is one of the largest private sector employers in Cork, particularly in the IT sector. Most people who were laid off in the jobs cuts in Motorola Ireland last year have not found jobs in Cork and have had to move to Dublin, because most IT jobs in Ireland are in Dublin. Consequently, the closure of Motorola would be a devastating blow to Cork, not just for the jobs themselves, but also about the sustainability of Cork as a centre for IT development.

In light of the above facts, I would like to know what steps the Minister is taking to prevent the closure of Motorola.

That is what we want to know tonight. What steps did the Minister take? It would appear that he took none because the letter received the standard reply stating:

I wish to acknowledge receipt of your recent letter to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Micheál Martin TD, regarding your concerns over the possible closure of Motorola Ireland Cork. I will bring your correspondence to the Minister's attention at the earliest possible opportunity.

Following this correspondence, there were numerous phone calls, letters and e-mails. There was no response from the Minister.

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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The Minister will be aware that the Motorola factory is sited in our shared constituency. However, its 350 workers come from all the Cork city and county constituencies and hence the interest of two other Cork colleagues this evening. I would still argue that the effect will be greatest in our constituency. More of the workers come from Cork South-Central and should the Motorola company cease activities the knock-on effect on service industries will be most felt there.

The Minister's comments in the local media have not assuaged fears. Perhaps he is being realistic in his assessment. We need to know what was known when and what the reality of the situation is. I fear that we could be engaged — I am not sure on whose behalf — in a cruel act of news management. What is a 30-day consultation period and why is it that just today another company, Thomson Scientific and Healthcare in Limerick, has chosen to go down exactly the same route? Is this the new way to make job announcements? It gives the prospect of jobs being lost and perhaps, at the most positive, scaling back some of those losses or delaying the eventual decision by a number of weeks. If this is the case it is the cruellest of decision-making methods.

The Government seems to be in thrall to the globalised world. This week's Central Bank quarterly report shows that the proportion of our economy based on manufacturing industry is dwindling. The figures do not lie. More of our economic activity is in services and less is in manufacturing industry. What is the Government's response? Does it have a strategy to protect and enhance manufacturing industry? We have had a number of reports about developing indigenous industry but we have yet to see the effect of any such jobs coming on stream and becoming a more vibrant element of the economy.

We need to ask questions about manufacturing industry. We had the recent announcement of the FCI jobs in Fermoy. That operation involved a manufacturing process, albeit at a different level. Even in the industrial estate where Motorola is located, in recent years another large manufacturer, Bourns Electronics, closed. These are warning signs. That these are all located in the Cork area is of greater concern to those of us representing the area. As the Minister responsible, Deputy Martin has a particular responsibility to address the fears that exist and give some assurance that this is not the beginning of a different future industrial environment in the Cork area. We need an appropriate industrial mix in the Cork area. If the IT and electronic sectors suffer, other factories and companies may have questions about their future. We should hear about this in media reports and prepare ourselves for impending decisions in three to four weeks' time. There should be a wide-ranging analysis of manufacturing industry and the Government's policy on that, particularly in the electronics and IT sectors and particularly in the Cork area.

In a different economic climate a State agency existed to pre-empt firms or industries at risk and decide whether measures could be taken to protect them. Maybe under EU rules that has changed and the Government cannot put capital directly into such companies. We should, however, consider establishing a State agency to do the type of work that Foras Forbartha Teoranta used to do, especially because of the job displacement in this field. It could examine whether there are dangers coming down the track and whether we can protect or enhance these industries.

The Government is not asking those questions. It is taking too much of a hands in the air attitude given the number of jobs in this industry that are affected in the Cork region. More jobs are affected in the add-on industries which support and service these companies. I urge the Minister to use the opportunity of the longer than usual contribution he will make on this Adjournment debate to address these questions and at least offer some immediate hope for the future of the workers in Motorola and for the future of manufacturing industry in the Cork area.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Like the other Deputies I am very concerned by the recent announcement of the loss of 350 jobs at Motorola. It is a terrible loss for Cork city and county which have spent many years building up a high-tech jobs base. I extend my sympathies to the staff members who have been affected and their families who face a bleak future. Even at this late stage every effort must be made to safeguard these positions because the future of the plant could be jeopardised if so many staff are laid off.

Unfortunately, the predicament of Motorola in Cork demonstrates how much Ireland's competitiveness has suffered under this Government. It is particularly worrying for Cork, given that this area has invested so much in attracting high end technology jobs. Since this Government came into power it has imposed at least 40 stealth taxes and charges on businesses and consumers. By comparison with the United Kingdom, electricity costs are 50% higher, insurance 20%, landfill costs 350% and broadband approximately 10% higher. Inflation reached a dangerous level at 4.9% in January and is set to climb. Exports are becoming more expensive as a result of the rising cost of doing business here and because of cut-price competition from overseas.

That these Motorola jobs are under threat raises serious questions about the Government's economic strategy because these are precisely the type of high end job that Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats want to attract into Ireland. If Motorola finds it too expensive to do business here, many other companies are sure to feel the same.

I listened with disbelief yesterday morning, Tuesday, 30 January, to the Neil Prenderville Show on Cork's 96FM when the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, said that no one expected the announcement of an immediate closure or that Motorola was considering closure because people felt there would be a window of opportunity to move into other areas. When the Minister was asked if the company had notified him he said not and that he had spoken to John Phillips the previous morning and that IDA Ireland would have been contacted the previous morning.

Like Deputy Lynch, I have a copy of a letter sent to the Minister on 4 January. The spin yesterday set out to give the impression that the Government first heard about this in recent days when a response issued to the letter of 4 January, signed by the Minister's private secretary, acknowledging receipt of the letter and stating that it would be brought to the Minister's attention. I hope the Minister does not use the same defence in this case as he used in respect of the nursing home debacle and say it was not brought to his attention. It is incredible that if the Minister was made aware of this on 4 or 5 January, he was in the Middle East, admittedly on a bona fide mission, trying to attract business while Motorola was going down the tubes. The Minister must address the issues raised by the letter sent to him and other communications sent to his Department by senior staff in Motorola.

Why was there no response to these people who in good faith sought the Minister's help to save the company? Was Motorola contacted about the contents of these letters? What steps did the Minister's office take to prevent the announcement of the closure? We need the answers tonight. Most important of all, the Minister should state how he proposes to salvage the company even at this late stage.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am glad that this matter has been raised on the Adjournment. Like every other Deputy and person in Cork, I was very concerned and disappointed to hear about the situation in Motorola. The company, which employs 330 people, informed its employees on 29 January 2006 of its intention to enter an employee consultation process regarding the future of the Cork site. The company is considering a proposal to cease all engineering functions carried out at the site. If this proposal is confirmed, it would result in most employees at the site being at risk of redundancy and could make the business unsustainable in the future. The company fully intends to carry out the consultation process with the highest possible level of consideration for all of its employees in Cork. I understand that the company does not intend to comment further in regard to the situation until the consultation process is completed.

In response to Deputy Boyle's point, the methodology by which a company announces its decisions is entirely a matter for the company. Neither I nor IDA Ireland has any role in that process. I ask the Deputy to accept that. Let us have a constructive debate on this issue. While I am not suggesting that Deputy Boyle is playing politics with jobs, we can do that too. The immediate concern here tonight is the workers at Motorola, not political point-scoring, of which we have had evidence. Other companies have announced their decisions in different ways in the past.

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Two companies have done it in exactly the same way.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Other companies did it differently in the past 12 months. Deputy Boyle must accept that.

The key reason behind the proposal is that, as part of the company's worldwide reorganisation, the workforce is to be reduced by 3,500 globally. I was in ongoing discussions with the company before January. IDA Ireland is in constant negotiations with a range of companies, including Motorola. We have been in contact with it here, in Cork and in the United States. When I talk about a window of opportunity, it was known that there had been some staff reductions in Motorola. Everyone knew there were difficulties at the plant. No one knew that it was intended to close everything at the plant.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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It was in black and white on 4 January.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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IDA Ireland and the Government work with senior management in companies. We liaise and discuss with them. I was in discussion with senior management at this company before this debate. The last quarter results from Motorola were poor. It did not reach its targets. The idea that a Minister in Ireland is responsible for Motorola's difficult international performance is a crazy notion.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Nobody said that.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Allen said it.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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No.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy has tried to skew the debate into a personality issue. The bottom line is that Motorola has had international difficulties with some products and the Cork plant operates in a technological area that has created difficulties in that it has reached its plateau in generating revenue. We and the company were hoping that we could get other activities and projects into the plant to diversify, much as Apple did ten years ago. That depends on getting mandates from corporate headquarters. That is how the system works. It is not that everyone sits around hoping companies close. There is no wish to do that. I respectfully suggest to Deputies Allen and Lynch that I am as committed to sustaining jobs in Cork as anyone else in this House. It is somewhat farcical for people to suggest otherwise.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Did the Minister contact the company after 4 January?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will deal with that issue later.

As regards job losses announced in companies in County Cork, I assure the people concerned that State agencies will provide every assistance possible. The priority will be to find an acceptable outcome for all those involved at the earliest opportunity. I do not accept Deputy Lynch's fatalistic view that everyone will be obliged to leave Cork because of what has happened. We will be working to secure alternative employment for people within Cork, if possible.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The people involved would prefer to remain where they are at present.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The role of FÁS, the industrial training agency, is of particular importance in providing assistance. The agency's full range of services is made available to the companies generally when redundancies occur.

In the context of Motorola, I have asked FÁS, IDA and Enterprise Ireland to engage with the company with a view to supporting, in every possible way, the workers at the plant. That will be the focus of our attention in the context of working with the employees. I have been in constant contact with local management in that regard.

There is no doubt that Ireland's strengths and competitive advantages have changed in the past decade——

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Why did the Minister not respond to the letters?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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——and our economy is now characterised by high output and productivity, together with high returns to labour in the form of wages, salaries and better living standards. Low technology production, which dominated our economic output in the past, is, as Deputy Boyle outlined, being replaced by higher technology and services enterprises. Contrary to what has been said, Irish manufacturing has performed quite strongly. Central Statistics Office, CSO, data indicate that manufacturing production, by volume, increased by 28% overall between 2000 and 2005.

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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What about the number of jobs?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As Deputy Boyle is aware, the number of jobs is not the only yardstick used in this regard. The coming into play of proper efficiencies provide longer sustainability and a better opportunity to retain plants. The latest CSO release on industrial employment in December indicates that employment in manufacturing increased by some 4,000 in the 12 months to September 2006.

I accept that this is no consolation to the workers at Motorola. Deputies Boyle and Allen raised issues relating to strategic policy, etc. It is important that we do not write Ireland off on foot of a series of announcements made in a particular week or two. A sentiment tends to be articulated that the world is going to collapse.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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So it is our fault now.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Minister is writing Ireland off.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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One of the Government's main tasks is to ensure that Ireland remains an attractive place to do business and to support the development of economic competencies higher up the value chain. In that regard, we continue to work to maintain and enhance our framework competitive conditions and to promote new areas of competitive advantage, such as by developing our research and development base. We have clear strategies in place to try to deal with the vagaries of a globalised economy. We are not, as Deputy Boyle suggested, in thrall to that economy. It is a fact and a reality with which we must deal and it makes matters far more competitive. We must change and develop our strengths in areas such as research and development, upskilling — we are investing heavily in this regard — and working with companies.

The Government's enterprise agencies also aim to support sustainable, high value added enterprise in Ireland through the provision of mentoring and developmental supports, the enhancement of management capabilities and critical workforce skills in client companies, support for the creation and implementation of strategies for market entry, development and growth and strong supports for innovation, research and development. The manufacturing sector will continue to be a significant contributor to exports, employment and economic growth in 2007 and beyond.

In the past five or six years, more than 440,000 jobs were created in services and 150,000 in high-end manufacturing.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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What about the 350 jobs in question?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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There has, in effect, been a significant turnaround in the nature of employment in Ireland. As we have seen in the past 15 years, long-term, sustainable economic growth and expansion in employment depend on a competitive and adaptable economy. For some time, the Government has recognised the inevitable changes taking place across world markets for both trade and investment. Enterprise policies that equip companies with the ability to better compete in world markets, capture the opportunities arising from globalisation and build competitive advantage in innovation and knowledge have been central to policy development and the impact of these policies is tangible.

The impact of globalisation on Ireland must be put in perspective. In the past eight years we have added over 523,000 people to our workforce, an unprecedented growth of 35%.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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This would be a grand speech if it were being delivered to the chamber of commerce. What about the workers at Motorola?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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There are now over 2 million people working in Ireland. Job losses, which inevitably arise in the globalised marketplace, are far exceeded by new job creation in this country, usually accompanied by——

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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That is no consolation to the people at Motorola.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy raised this issue and blamed the current crisis on cost-competitiveness.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Why did the Minister not answer the letters?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I did not interrupt the Deputy. He does not like what I am saying.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I would appreciate it if the Deputy opposite would facilitate me in completing my reply.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Minister should answer the questions that were asked.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Furthermore, unemployment continues to fall.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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If action had been taken, the people at Motorola would not be in the position in which they now find themselves.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputies referred to industrial development in Cork. I accept that employment created elsewhere is no consolation to the workers but I have already indicated that we will do everything possible to secure alternative employment for them in the Cork region. I assure the Deputies that the industrial development agencies are continuing to promote Cork for employment opportunities. The Government's strategy to create employment in Cork is to progress the development of a knowledge economy——

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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What has happened since 4 January when the Minister was informed that the plant would be closing?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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For God's sake, will the Deputy not listen? I would appreciate it if I could be allowed to continue without interruption and I will respond to the issues the Deputies have raised. It is extremely disappointing that they cannot allow us to have a civilised debate on this issue and that they must constantly harangue and interrupt me.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Has the Minister contacted the company since 4 January?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Government's strategy to create employment in Cork is to progress the development of a knowledge economy so that the city can compete nationally and internationally for foreign direct investment. The agency is also working with its existing client base to expand their presence in Cork as well as providing modern property solutions with supporting infrastructure in the area. New investment announcements in the region made in the past year include those relating to Eli Lilly, PepsiCo, GlaxoSmithKline, Trend Micro, Netgear, Amazon, Citco and Amgen, which will result in over 2,300 new jobs at full operation in Cork.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Those are jobs for the future. They will not become available until many years from now.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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No, some of them have already become available. Citco will create 250 new financial services jobs, while the recent announcement by Amgen, the largest biotechnology company in the world, has decided to locate in Cork and to create 1,100 jobs there. IDA Ireland and I worked hard to secure the latter, which is a good development for Cork and its people. It is important to recognise that fact. Amazon, another major company, has established a new multilingual customer services centre in Cork and this investment will create up to 450 positions. In addition, there were also significant job announcements for Cork in the years prior to 2006.

Enterprise Ireland is also working with its client companies in Cork in the context of increasing the number of jobs on offer and it invested almost €9 million in those companies last year. This investment will support new business employment, as well as research and development, capital investment and staff training in Irish-owned companies.

The State development agencies will continue to strengthen their marketing and promotion efforts to secure alternative employment for Cork city and county. This will be done in partnership with other key players to maximise the flow of potential investors to the region and to convert these into new investment and job opportunities. The policies we are pursuing in the Cork region are bearing fruit.

Decisions by companies to cease operations on foot of global difficulties they are experiencing are not the fault of the Government and it is disingenuous to suggest otherwise.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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What about our competitiveness?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Our competitiveness was not a factor in Motorola's decision.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Who said that?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have been in contact with Motorola, which did not indicate any difficulties with the Government.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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When did the Minister contact the company?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As is the case with all companies, we were in contact with Motorola on an ongoing basis.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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What was the Minister's reaction to the——

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy should bear in mind that cost-competitiveness was not the issue in this case.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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A package was needed but there was no one to provide it.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Motorola and other multinational companies have operations across the globe.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Minister received a letter——

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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With respect, IDA Ireland and I are in contact with the corporate headquarters of all of these companies. We meet their representatives when they come to Ireland and when we visit the United States. On such trips, we pursue business.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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We know that.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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We were never informed by Motorola that it intended to close the Cork plant.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Minister was informed——

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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An employee wrote to us and provided information and we contacted the company. However, the company only took its decision this week to close the plant.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The workers needed help but a package could not be provided.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The key strategic objective of IDA Ireland and the Department revolved around whether we could attract other activity to the Motorola plant. I saw the political objective behind Deputy Lynch's opening remarks. It is somewhat sickening that some Members are reducing this to a political point-scoring match but then they are entitled to do so.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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It is called accountability. The Minister has not answered the question.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Minister would prefer not to be accountable at all.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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This is about political accountability.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I would prefer to work with companies in Cork in expanding their portfolios. We meet many of them even when they do not have announcements coming down the tracks. We also work in bringing new companies into the area. IDA Ireland does a very good job in this. If results turn out poorly for companies, as they unfortunately did for Motorola, jobs will be cut. Motorola has cut 3,500 jobs globally. It is not a practice I would agree with but it tends to be the route certain companies take when the headcount or profit margins are wrong or when targets suggested to the markets are not reached. Motorola did miss targets for some of its key products during the Christmas.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Why then did the Minister give the impression he was surprised at the announcement of the closure?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The closure was a surprise. No one expected the closure of the entire plant.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Did the Minister receive communications on the matter on 4 January?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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People may have felt certain aspects of the plant's activities were under threat.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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What about telephone calls and several e-mails after that?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have been in constant contact with IDA Ireland on the matter. If the Deputies want to make it a political issue, it is their business.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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It is a political matter. We are politicians.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My focus is on ensuring the workers can be helped in every way possible by the various State agencies. This will include any alternative opportunities or additional help and support they require.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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God help them if they are depending on FÁS.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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With the greatest respect, while companies have closed in Cork in the past year, many of their employees have secured alternative employment. We will continue to work on that basis.

Motorola, like any other company, was entitled to tender for the Garda TETRA project. We cannot get involved in that process for obvious reasons. If opportunities arise from that, we will seek to exploit them. It will, however, be different from what was in play. It is unfortunate that the additional mandates that went to others did not go to Motorola's Cork facility. The greater the range of a company's activities, the better the chances of sustaining a reasonable degree of employment in it. That was a factor in this case, as well as Motorola's recent poor global performance.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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May I ask the Minister one question?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I was on Question Time today when there were plenty of opportunities to ask me a question but no one did.