Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

While it is understandable that many tributes should be paid to the new President-elect, a more important event took place at the weekend which I wish to put on the record of the House. I congratulate Sligo Rovers on winning the FAI cup final. In the scheme of things a famous manager said once that the sport was more important than life or death. I endorse all that has been said about our former colleague and the now President-elect, Mr. Higgins. Like several of those who have spoken, I had the pleasure of serving with him on the foreign affairs committee and of travelling with him on several occasions. He is an extraordinary man who will bring a new dimension to the presidency. I am sure there will be an opportunity for the House to pay tribute to the outgoing President, Mary McAleese, and Senator Martin McAleese for the outstanding job they have done as well.

Will the Leader invite the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, to the House to discuss further the job losses announced at the Bank of America facility at Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim? Yesterday, the company announced that at further 100 jobs will be lost. This is on top of 60 compulsory redundancies announced at the time the company stated it would withdraw its credit card service in Carrick-on-Shannon in August. The air of cloud or gloom around Carrick-on-Shannon since August has darkened considerably in the past 24 hours as uncertainly continues to mount upon uncertainty. The only person who appears to have some insight into the thinking of those in the Bank of America corporate entity is the Minister, Deputy Bruton. I commend him on his proactive stance. He met the workers and the Irish executives in August and, while in America, he also met Bank of America executives based there. I commend him on this work but this is why I call on the Minister to come to the House to clarify exactly what he believes to be the agenda of the company.

Will there be a continuing haemorrhage of jobs to the point where it will become more attractive as a corporate takeover? As the Cathaoirleach and all Members will be aware, whenever there are corporate takeovers they are followed inevitably by job losses. There were 700 plus jobs under threat and now with the reduction of 100 staff the figure is down to 600. Will we see a drip-drip effect in the coming months while whoever takes over the company is being sorted out? It is unfair to the workers, their families and the wider economy. I want to empathise with those who have lost their jobs. Even one job loss brings personal misery. I hope the Leader will accede to my request in light of the very serious nature of the announcement made yesterday.

I endorse all that has been said in asking for the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to come to the House to discuss the closure of the Vatican embassy. It is a bad day for Ireland.