Martin Conway (Fine Gael)

I join other speakers in voicing my concern at the loss of 1,000 jobs at Aviva. I, together with colleagues, raised the issue three or four weeks ago. It has taken the company that length of time to announce the bad news. The situation has been speculated about, including on Twitter and Facebook, for weeks, which is most inappropriate. For a company of Aviva's size to behave so deplorably is extremely regrettable. I call on the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, to articulate the concerns of this House to the company management. I also call on the Football Association of Ireland, FAI, to see whether it can reconsider its arrangement with Aviva in terms of the naming of the national football stadium. Surely there was another organisation willing to come up with the sponsorship money. I encourage the FAI to break its contractual arrangements with Aviva and to enter into negotiations with another, more ethical, corporate sponsor.