Mike Kennelly (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State for taking this. The Commencement matter is on the future of the Kostal plant, as Senator Collins has alluded to. I stand with a very real sense of concern but also of hope that, through meaningful engagement and strategic investment, we can safeguard a future and jobs in the communities of west Limerick and north Kerry.

The situation at Kostal Ireland's Abbeyfeale plant is deeply troubling. For over four decades, this facility has provided stable employment and economic support to the region. Many of its workers have given the best years of their lives to this company. I, for one, can vouch for that. My spouse recently finished up with over 32 years' employment in this company. That is what it means to the north Kerry region. While many of its workers have given the best years of their lives to it, they now face a very uncertain future. We must ensure that their dedication is met with fairness and respect. That is why I am urging the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to engage directly with union representatives - it is not too late - and Kostal management to allow for constructive dialogue to begin, which is essential not only to exploring solutions but also acknowledging the human impact of these decisions. These workers are not just numbers on a payroll; they are the backbone of their community.

This moment also invites us to look at the broader picture and ask why this is happening. The challenges facing Abbeyfeale, Newcastle West and the south west are not isolated incidents. They reflect a wider issue - the need for improved infrastructure and investment in our region. I am also calling today on the Minister for Transport and the Minister for public expenditure to expedite and prioritise the delivery of the bypasses for the towns of Abbeyfeale and Newcastle West, which have remained for many years a bottleneck on the N21 corridor. Road users continue to suffer from congestion and limited connectivity. There are five capital projects being planned for at present. One is at construction - the Adare bypass - and there are four at design stage. I call on the Minister for Transport to expedite these so that we can get this rolling, but today, our main issue is the workers within Kostal. I applaud Councillor Liam Galvin in Abbeyfeale who is constantly fighting for the road infrastructure investment to come into west Limerick. Without infrastructure and proper investment, we will not get new employers into the region.