It is regrettable that the current sorry state of the economy has led to a situation where we have to discuss the protection of employees who are being made redundant. The Government was forced into taking this action on foot of the serious difficulties experienced by employees who were let go from the Irish Glass Bottle Company and Peerless Rugs, among others, including Square D in Ballinasloe and, as I have already mentioned, Comerama in Castlecomer.