Kieran Phelan (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to take this Adjournment matter. Last Friday my town of Rathdowney received the devastating news of the loss of 120 jobs at Meadow Meats. The factory has served our town well for many years. I recall in 1973 my late father was involved in a committee with the Golden Vale marts group to form a meat factory in Rathdowney and in 1974 this took place. Some years later Guinness came in and took over the meat factory which continued to serve our town for many years. Some years ago Dawn Meats came and took over from Guinness when it exited the meat factory business. Last Friday, word came through that we would lose the boning section of the factory. After this takes place, some 80 killing jobs will remain in the factory but these are vulnerable because of the proposed new super killing line in Kilbeggan in the near future. No funding has come through for the killing line in Meadow Meats in Rathdowney and it remains vulnerable.

Arcon Mines, some four miles outside Rathdowney, closed in recent weeks with the loss of 200 jobs. This and Meadow Meats were the two major employers in south County Laois, providing employment for the towns of Durrow, Ballacolla, Borris-in-Ossory and Rathdowney. With the loss of these two companies there is no industry in the area. I call on the Minister of State to form a task force to try to help to bring employment to the area, now classed as a blackspot. There is now no industry in south County Laois, a huge rural area.

I am not complaining about Meadow Meats which has served the farming business in the area well throughout the years and its staff has carried out trojan work to help the factory at all times. I am saddened that some people who have worked there for up to 40 years will walk out next month with nowhere else to go. I call on the Minister of State to relay to the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the urgent need for a task force and any other necessary measures to help the local people and to try to bring employment back to the area. I have no doubt the local community will do all in its power to help the relevant bodies to see whether labour can be secured for the area. I look forward to hearing the reply of the Minister of State.