Mary White (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is my pleasure to congratulate the Leader and Senator Cullinane on their efforts to ensure the sustainability of the Bausch & Lomb plant in Waterford. Yesterday, more than 800 employees voted for the conditions proposed by Valeant, the parent company. These include pay cuts and approximately 200 redundancies. It is also my pleasure to compliment the members of the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union, TEEU, employed by Bausch & Lomb. Mr. Paddy Kavanagh, its regional secretary, stated: "The cuts to pay and conditions arising from these proposals are particularly harsh and will impact greatly on the workers affected." This is a great tribute to all involved in maintaining the company. Members of the Seanad do not realise the considerable pressure being applied in the US by two New York Senators with a view to moving Bausch & Lomb from Ireland to Rochester. At the same time, Valeant is moving its manufacturing and research and development work from Rochester to New Jersey. There is a cycle, and the situation is not as clear as people might believe. A major effort has been made to hold onto a company, which is nearly more important than announcements of new jobs.

I draw the House's attention to the 2013 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor report for Ireland, which was launched yesterday. It is published annually. I seek a discussion on this document soon. People forget that most new jobs are created by start-ups, when businesses are at their point of greatest innovation and creativity.

I also wish to debate the issue of the 11.8% of people who remain unemployed. The percentage sounds small, but the situation is fundamental to each human's life, heart and soul. Yesterday afternoon, I had to go on a mercy mission to a young person who, when he reached the age of 18, was let go. We must discuss this issue again, as the minimum wage comes into play when someone turns 18 years of age. Many unfair practices are being used beneath the radar. For those who are not highly educated or well placed in society, there is a great deal of cruelty.