Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 45: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the contacts she has with industrial development agencies with a view to securing alternative employment for the 300 workers who are due to lose their jobs at a company (details supplied) in Dublin 14; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13346/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am keenly aware of the impact on Ericsson's employees and their families following the company's decision to reduce its workforce in Ireland by 300. This is due to begin in June on a phased basis over an 18 months period. The State development agencies under the remit of my Department have adopted a co-ordinated approach in response to the announced job losses, which includes relevant interventions from all of the agencies.

FÁS management met with Ericsson management on a number of occasions to discuss the services available from FÁS, and the potential needs of the employees who will lose their jobs. Each response will be tailored on a case by case basis. IDA Ireland is working with Ericsson on a continuous basis in an effort to secure further investments from other business units. There is also an ongoing relationship between Enterprise Ireland and the Ericsson management team. In this regard Enterprise Ireland is in contact with Ericsson employees who will lose their jobs, to try to link employee skillsets with the skillsets required by indigenous high growth start up companies. I also understand that Ericsson has put together a small team of managers to work with those personnel being affected by the redundancies to co-ordinate the information available on supports available from the agencies, as well as other supports the company may provide.

The Government recently introduced "Building Ireland's Smart Economy" a Framework for Sustainable Economic Renewal, which sets out a clear roadmap for Ireland's move back to economic growth and prosperity. Our immediate policy objectives with regard to competitiveness are to restore confidence and stability in our economy, provide supports to the enterprise sector, restore cost competitiveness, safeguard the significant achievements of recent years and to ensure a return to sustainable export growth. Under the Framework for Economic Renewal we are taking a number of measures across Government to address these objectives. The Cabinet Committee for Economic Renewal will drive this strategy and we will continue to pursue policies that will build on our strengths, address our weaknesses and maximise economic activity and employment.