Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will raise a couple of issues. The first is mental health and the care plan for those over 18 year of age. Anyone who watched the "Prime Time" interview last week or heard Andrew McGinley this morning on Newstalk will have heard his plea for support of an advocate to those suffering. I have come across this many times as a foster parent. One week I could play a vital role in supporting a person under 18 years of age and, as soon as that person turns 18, I cannot gain access to any information. This is so wrong and we, as legislators, must look again at the vital supportive role that can be provided by an advocate to someone suffering. We owe it to Conor, Darragh, Carla and all the children who have been murdered due to mental health issues in this country.

The next issue is the aviation sector in this country and the butchering of 4,000 jobs by the Government's failure to act and support this industry. I highlighted in the House in July 2020 the issue of testing at airports. Travel restrictions in Ireland have been the most stringent of any European country. The loss of Aer Lingus jobs in Shannon and Cork will be the tip of the iceberg if the Minister for Transport does not deal with this sector urgently.I call on the Deputy Leader to ask the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, to come to this House to outline his plans for this sector.

I also wish to raise the closure of the Sudocrem plant in Baldoyle, with the loss of 100 jobs. According to the manufacturer, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, the Baldoyle factory will close in 2023 and production will move to Bulgaria. The plant has been operational since 1940. Sudocrem, which has been a household staple in Ireland for 90 years is now available in more than 40 countries, with an estimated 34.5 million pots sold each year. To date, nobody from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, has been in touch with the management and staff about this closure. I find it astonishing that we could allow the manufacturer of an iconic product like Sudocrem, which was developed and manufactured here in Ireland, to close up and waltz off to have the product manufactured in Bulgaria with no intervention by the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Varadkar. I call on the Deputy Leader to ask the Tánaiste to engage with the management and staff on what supports are needed to enable the company and jobs to be retained in Ireland.