Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Following the comments of Senator Thomas Byrne on the children's hospital, yesterday I raised the point that we must consider this in respect of the coming 20 years and long-term planning. It is important the decision is reached on that basis rather than on current requirements. There has been too much delay going back over ten or 15 years and the wrong decision was made because we did not consider the long-term issue when the initial decision on location was taken. It is important to look to the future, not just at 2012 and 2013. When the decision is made, the Minister should come to the House and give a full explanation on how he proposes expediting delivery of the project. Once the decision is made, it is important all political parties and the people involved get behind the project rather than making it a political football. Too many people are directly affected by this and it is important to work together.

Speaking of working together, Senator Cullinane referred to the European globalisation fund. In 2009, when Dell let go 2,000 people, the globalisation fund structure in Europe meant that Limerick did not qualify for funding. There had to be a loss of 1,000 jobs in an area and the jobs had to go to a destination outside Europe. A number of us approached the Commission and, within six weeks of Dell being closed, the Commission adjusted the rules to accommodate funding for Limerick. At the time of the loss of jobs at Waterford Wedgwood, 1,000 jobs had to be lost. In that case, the Commission adjusted the rules so that it applied to where more than 500 jobs were lost in an area. This is an example of working together, to which Senator Cullinane referred. All political groups from the political parties in Waterford, along with Departments and people at European level, worked together to help those who had lost their jobs to get back to work. We should all be trying to make sure that, where jobs are lost, we provide the necessary training to ensure people can return to employment in the shortest period. I congratulate those in Waterford and those who worked together at European and departmental level for their work to ensure funding could be made available at the earliest possible date.