Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

16. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has discussed the threat to jobs in a company (details supplied) in his meetings with the British Government or leaders of the Northern Ireland parties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48319/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Government is concerned at the possible adverse impact on jobs at Bombardier Belfast and on the wider economy in Northern Ireland of the ongoing US Administration anti-dumping and anti-subsidies investigation regarding the development of Bombardier’s C-Series aircraft.

I have raised the Government’s concerns directly with the US Secretary of Commerce, Wilbur Ross. I have also discussed the matter with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with political parties in Northern Ireland.

I wrote to the US Secretary of Commerce in September to convey the concerns of the Irish Government, as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, and had the opportunity to speak with him in person on the issue at a bilateral meeting in Washington D.C. on 4 October.

I outlined to Secretary Ross the Government’s concerns at the preliminary finding and the implications the case could have for Bombardier’s operations in Belfast. I noted that the Government appreciated fully that the matter is a commercial dispute on which the US authorities must adjudicate. I asked Secretary Ross to consider fully the significance of the case in terms of the impact on the economy in Northern Ireland, noting the important support which economic prosperity provides to the Peace Process. I recalled also that the United States has been instrumental in brokering and consolidating peace in Northern Ireland and continues to provide immensely valuable support to the Peace Process.

The Government will continue to proactively raise our concerns on the investigation with the US Administration. My Department is also maintaining contact with the trade unions representing workers at Bombardier Belfast, to keep them informed on the Government’s engagement on the matter, as a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement.

It should be noted that the findings by the US Department of Commerce are preliminary decisions, in a process that is not expected to conclude until 2018. Bombardier have stated that they will fully contest the preliminary findings and that the implications for their operations in Belfast are as yet unclear.

I note also that, further to the announcement of a deal between Airbus and Bombardier last month, indications have been given that the deal will support jobs at Bombardier Belfast. That would be most welcome news, if confirmed, particularly for the people employed by Bombardier in Belfast who are most directly concerned.

The potential impact of the preliminary finding by the US Department of Commerce on jobs at Bombardier Belfast remains a key concern for the Government, as a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement. I will continue to do all that I can to assist on this matter and engage further with the US Administration in the period ahead, as and when required.