Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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362. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the action he has taken to protect jobs in companies (details supplied) due to a planned acquisition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37913/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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This planned acquisition was announced just last month and the formal legal processes to complete the sale have not yet been finalised. Both companies have very substantial operations in Ireland, encompassing a wide range of activities, one of the companies employs about 2,300 staff and the other has a workforce here of about 3,200. These are quality jobs, and mostly in regional locations, which makes their presence in this country of significant strategic value. The proposed acquisition is not yet complete and no decisions have been announced as to the future business direction of the enlarged company. Accordingly it is not possible at this stage to give an indication of any likely outcomes for the Irish businesses. I have asked IDA Ireland to engage closely with the local and head office management of the two companies in order to emphasise the value of their Irish operations and to seek to secure and embed their operations in this country. In addition, I myself have met senior management of both companies in the recent past and I will continue to engage with them into the future, to highlight the importance of their operations here and the advantages and attractions which Ireland can offer to contribute to their ongoing development.