Minister Kelleher Seeks EU Help For DELL Workers

The Minister took the opportunity to explore the contribution that the European Globalisation Fund might make in addressing the needs of DELL and other redundant workers in the Mid-West region.

He also made suggestions on how the existing European Regulation that governs the workings of the European Global Fund might be amended.

Discussions on such amendments have recently commenced in Brussels and the Minister raised with the Commissioner the prospect of expediting those discussions. Speaking shortly after his meeting with Commissioner Spidla, Minister Kelleher said;

"The key task of the European Globalisation Fund is to assist in addressing economic dislocation and its impact on local, regional and national economies. The scale of redundancies in DELL and more widely in the Mid-West region has brought such economic dislocation to that area and particularly to Limerick.

"In this context our discussions were timely and, hopefully, will inform plans that will materially improve the prospects of redundant DELL workers and others under threat of loosing their jobs.

"Commissioner Spidla has already committed to do his utmost to ensure that the resources of the European Globalisation Fund -with a budget at present of up to €500 million each year - contribute to improving the job prospects and other opportunities open to DELL workers. He reiterated and reinforced that commitment today."

The Minister concluded by saying "While there are no guarantees of a successful application under the scheme, the Irish government is strongly pressing the case for the mid-west region and we are encouraged by the initial response of the Commission in that regard."