Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

IDA Ireland's early warning system is about identifying companies within its remit that are facing difficulties and seeking to work through a transformation agenda. Over three quarters of IDA Ireland's budget is spent on the transformation agenda and working with companies to reposition them to protect jobs for the future. This work is not done in the public arena, rather it is done on the basis of confidentiality, which is expected by companies in their dealings with IDA Ireland. The agency must do this. Naturally, companies must work with their employees, but the relationship between them is a matter for which they take responsibility. We try to pre-empt job losses in every way we can and that is what we have sought to do in this case. We have published the south-east action plan and I have had several meetings with stakeholders in the south east. I am always open to and will plan to have further meetings with them. I have also met public representative and I am always open to meeting them.