Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

It is incumbent on the Government and anyone who has any power available to him or her to assist redundant workers in every possible way. It is rather concerning when the likes of Pfizer announces large-scale redundancies amounting to in excess of 800 people. These are high-end jobs in the pharmaceuticals area. The European globalisation fund is a €500 million fund available throughout Europe to assist workers made redundant owing to globalisation factors. I am aware from experience of the case of Waterford Crystal as well as of Dell and SR Technics that the Government response in seeking assistance from the fund leaves a good deal to be desired. It has been slow and has lacked co-ordination. The Department informs Members it is a complex process and, while I am sure it may be, that is no good to the redundant workers affected. They need assistance quickly. Another pharmaceutical company in Waterford, Teva Pharmaceuticals, will carry out 315 redundancies this year. While that company unfortunately does not reach the employee threshold of 500 required to qualify for assistance, there is nothing to stop the Government combing Teva with Pfizer or other pharmaceutical companies such that they get this assistance and workers receive the re-skilling and re-training required to get them back into the workplace.

I urge the Leader for an urgent debate on the European globalisation fund and all mechanisms available to assist redundant workers. I propose an amendment to the Order of Business to debate the issue as a matter of urgency today and I trust the Leader will accept it.