Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

Last week I raised the underfunding and insolvency of some private pension funds, with particular reference to Waterford Crystal. Little did I know the receiver would go in a couple of days afterwards, close the doors and sack 600 people without any prior consultation with the workers or their union. Negotiations are going on with two companies, Clarion and KPS, about purchasing the company. I hope one of them will purchase the company. Whichever one does, it is essential that crystal manufacturing will be maintained in Waterford and that the visitor centre, which attracts more than 300,000 tourists per year into Waterford and the region, will be maintained.