Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Devine raised job losses in Dundalk, which are most disappointing and distressing for the families and the workers involved. Senator Nash also raised this as a Commencement matter with the Minister of State, Deputy Phelan. The Government's concern is for the workers directly affected by the announcement at this very difficult time for them and their families. Many of us have seen in our own work people who have been similarly treated. It is most upsetting and distressing. The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection is working across Government with the workers in the transition to find new employment. It is also important to recognise that the reply Senator Nash received from the Minister of State recognises that the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection will provide the workers with "any redundancy, insolvency and jobseeker payments to which they may be entitled in a timely manner and will proactively help them to access available opportunities for employment". I think we all agree this should not have happened in the way it did and that the way the workers were treated was wrong.