Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this matter. This is probably the Minister's first engagement in the Houses as the new Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. I congratulate him on his appointment to a position of great importance and wish him well during his tenure. Over the next two years or so the Minister will probably drive through the town of Mitchelstown hundreds of times as he travels between Dublin and Cork. He is familiar with the town and the community and he is aware of the current difficulties in the town.

This afternoon I wish to address the urgent need for Government intervention with regard to job losses in the Mitchelstown area and to appeal to the Minister to ensure that his Department and officials work in a strong and proactive fashion with the State and local job creation agencies, the local authorities and others to ensure that the jobs crisis in Mitchelstown is dealt with. On many occasions pleas have been made in the House for industrial development for different towns throughout the country. However, Mitchelstown is one of the few towns, if not the only town, which, since the foundation of the State, has never received any type of inward industrial development.

For the past 50 or 60 years employment provision in Mitchelstown has arisen from a single source and a single industry, namely, what was formerly Mitchelstown Co-operative and is now Dairygold. No major industry providing more than 30 or 40 jobs has located in Mitchelstown. The town and the community, therefore, have been almost entirely dependent on one industry. That industry is now under pressure. Unfortunately, a commercial decision was made for which the Government cannot be blamed. However, as a result hundreds of jobs have been lost in the Dairygold group. A significant number of redundancies are planned for the Galtee Meats division. Obviously, this is a cause of grave distress and concern for the Mitchelstown community.

I appeal to the Minister to work with Dairygold to ensure that the assistance the company is seeking for research development and technological advances is provided through the State agencies and to give whatever assistance the company requires to ensure its long-term viability and expansion. That must be done. I also ask the Minister to meet the local community, business groups and local people who are aware of the problems that exist. They will discuss various possible solutions with the Minister. There was a helpful meeting some months ago with the Tánaiste when she held the Minister's portfolio.

I do not expect overnight miracles. It is not possible for the Minister to open his briefcase and produce two factories for Mitchelstown. However, our goal must be to ensure that new industry is brought to the area. It must also be to ensure that Dairygold gets whatever help and support it requires to progress and develop in the future. We now have a Cork-based Minister with responsibility for employment. While he has to look after other counties, I hope his personal knowledge of the town and community of Mitchelstown will lead him to ensure that they get the attention they deserve.

There is a great community in Mitchelstown and a fantastic workforce has been available to the main employer in the town. Everybody must work together. There has been anger in Mitchelstown in recent times but that is understandable. However, we must move on to phase 2, which means everybody working in a positive and progressive fashion to stem the tide in the area. I thank the Minister for coming to the House this afternoon. I hope it is a first positive step and that the Minister will be willing to work with the community council, the Mitchelstown business association, Cork County Council, the Leader groups and so forth. If everybody pulls together, we can turn the situation around.