Becton, Dickinson and Company has had a factory operating in Drogheda since 1964. Generations of Drogheda people have worked there. Unfortunately, the devastating news yesterday was that 170 people will lose their jobs over the next two years. There seemed to be no early warning system to the Minister - the Department was only informed the evening before. There was no opportunity to intervene and support this company, if it can be supported. I know the Minister will travel to New York next week to discuss issues with the company. It is imperative that the Government uses every possible opportunity, even at this late stage, having not been informed at all about what was going on, to see if we can support this company. Its support base in our town has been loyal. The company invested greatly in our town. We would value its continuation. It is a huge loss. What can the Government do, now that it knows about it?

Our primary concern is for those working in Becton, Dickinson and Company and their families who are impacted by this decision. All State agencies will work to support the workers affected in the period ahead as they pursue alternative employment. The IDA will have to work on the site and plant to see if we can get an alternative investor in, which has happened in the past to good effect. Some closures resulted in a rejuvenation of a given site, the most famous being Motorola in Cork ten or 15 years ago. It led to completely new developments on a number of fronts. Likewise in this case, it seems there is reduced demand for the company's key product and pressures from low-cost locations. It is a long-standing company that has been there since 1964. It continues to employ about 900 workers in Enniscorthy, Dublin and Limerick. We will do everything we can for the workers to get alternative employment and then try to get more employment into that location.