Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

We can agree to differ.

I must admit to Senator Cummins that I have not seen the report in The Munster Express which he mentioned, but I will investigate it. I have noted the point the Senator made about MFG and will respond to it. Obviously, it involves workers who have been left high and dry. They have rights through the National Employment Rights Authority which must be asserted. The reforms we are seeking are not intended to hollow out employment rights, as the Senator suggested, but to make them and industrial relations services more accessible and to ensure people are not driven into expensive disputes when compliance and early intervention could secure a better result.

In response to Senator White, we met representatives of Bank of America when I visited Charlotte and we had a fruitful discussion with them. Clearly, this is still at an early stage. The bank is seeking to sell the business as a going concern, which is also our objective. It has ensured the IDA will have full access to the process in terms of being able to promote and sell Ireland to any prospective buyer. The buyer will see the full range of the package on offer and the merits of remaining in Carrick-on-Shannon and maintaining the operation intact. In one sense, it was a fruitful meeting. We have access at the highest level in the company and its representatives are very committed. As the Senator outlined from her own experience of the culture of US companies, they were very supportive and understood their responsibilities to the workers in Carrick-on-Shannon. I was pleased with the meeting, albeit against a background in which the sale of this operation obviously contained threats which nobody could downplay. Much depends on buyers in these instances, not sellers. However, we have secured the maximum input into this process which I hope we can turn to good advantage.

They were the main points raised that required a response. I know Sir Terry Leahy. In the presence of another supermarket magnate, I am reluctant to get into------