The past 24 hours have been devastating for job losses in Munster. As has been mentioned, 500 jobs are to go in Shannon and now 320 jobs in Ringaskiddy, Cork. I am sure the workers concerned and their families are crushed by this news. The Government needs to be proactive on this. I know the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is in Shannon today, following the job losses there. I hope she will also visit Cork and speak to the workers there. I hope the unions and other worker representatives can obtain the best possible conditions for workers in this scenario. Will the Minister immediately commence the process of seeking funding from the European Globalisation Fund to assist the workers losing their jobs in their search for new employment?

As the Deputy acknowledged, the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, was in the region this morning, meeting the relevant authorities, the workers and management. We will examine whether it meets the criteria for the European Globalisation Fund. Those criteria are very clear and we will either meet them or not. If we meet the criteria, we will certainly make an application. Irrespective of what happens, we have a bit of time. These job losses are being phased in over two years, which gives the staff a chance to look for new jobs. It also gives us a chance to find a new investor, particularly for Molex in Shannon. No matter what happens, Government agencies will be there to assist the workers, engage with the unions, ensure that they know their rights and the terms of redundancy and early retirement, and ensure that they know what social protection supports are available, including back-to-education allowance, back-to-work enterprise allowance, training, etc.