Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 220: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures which were taken by his Department to prevent the loss of 290 jobs at plants (details supplied) in Dublin and Greenore, County Louth; the contacts he has had with unions involved; and the measures he will take to replace these jobs. [14621/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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On 4 October 2004, Coca Cola Bottlers Ireland, CCBI, announced that it intended to close its three manufacturing plants and concentrate all of its manufacturing in one new plant. None of the three existing sites was deemed to be large enough, nor did any of them have access to sufficient water of the necessary quality to accommodate the new project.

Since then, Enterprise Ireland worked very closely with CCBI to try and have the new plant located here. I met with Enterprise Ireland and with union and worker representatives on 9 February 2005, to discuss the matter. The key determinant of the new location was always going to be access to quality ground water. Locations were tested both north and south of the Border and a new site in west Lisburn was chosen. I am satisfied that everything that could have been done was done to try to secure the new project.

Yesterday, Enterprise Ireland met with local interests in Greenore who have been affected by the CCBI decision. The outcome of the meeting is that the State agencies, including Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, the county enterprise board and FÁS, which were all represented at the meeting, will work together to facilitate the development of new business on the Greenore site and to provide the full range of supports possible to those workers who are to lose their jobs.