Shane Cassells (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not need to tell the Minister of State about the bombshell that went off last night in Navan following the temporary closure, as has been described, of Tara Mines, and the impact on the town and region. Some 650 people are employed in Tara Mines and 3,000 jobs depend on an income from it. The general manager, Gunnar Nystrom, speaking on "Morning Ireland" earlier, explained why the company took this measure. For the general manager and management of Tara Mines to act in the manner in which they did last night, without any warning for the 650 employees, was not acceptable.

The mine has been in operation in Navan for 46 years. I grew up in the shadow of the mine. It has extracted substantial profits from the natural resources of our town. It has overcome serious challenges in recent years. A severe flooding of the mine in November 2021 threatened its existence.

It has been claimed that the decision was taken having considered all feasible alternatives and implementing measures in other areas of the business. I do not accept that. Last week, I was in contact with employees who raised concerns about what were described as control measures being taken to reduce costs. This included a freeze on recruitment and overtime, the cessation of discretionary spending, training and education, a reduction in drilling and cutting contractors.

Last week, I was contacted by subcontractors who were being let go with immediate effect. There were warning signs last week that I and local media raised. Meetings were scheduled in the coming week with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Simon Coveney. That makes it all the more strange that, without any consultation with the union, the management has acted in this way.

My thoughts are for the people who work in the mine. Last night, a lady contacted me while her husband had been called into a meeting at 9 p.m. Her husband and son work in the mine; the son had just started as an apprentice. It is not uncommon in Tara Mines for sons to follow their fathers down the mine. There is an entire ecosystem of jobs in Tara Mines. I have travelled to the bottom of the mine some 800 m underground. There are garages in operation, run by mechanics, engineers and skilled electricians. There is an entire skilled workforce down there.

This is the largest zinc mine in Europe. Management has claimed it has taken the action because of a fall in the price of zinc and the cost of energy, but that has not impacted on the mines it owns in Sweden. It worries me that this action has been taken in the mine in Navan The Government can play a role here, and I ask the Minister of State, Tánaiste, Taoiseach and Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, to take action. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, has already engaged with management.

This is a two-way street. There are steps the Government can take. I look forward to hearing what the Minister of State will say. The company has a duty of care to its employees. To simply put 650 people on the dole queue with near immediate effect is not acceptable. These people have expenses, mortgages and families. To deal this body blow to the town of Navan in the unilateral manner in which management did so at last night, with no consultation with the union, is simply not acceptable and will not be accepted.