Ireland: MEP Colm Burke campaigns in Waterford

MEP Colm Burke has issued the following statement:

In my recent campaign visit to Waterford jobs, jobs, jobs” was key message from people and also that the Government must apply for European funding for Waterford immediately. The message from the people of Waterford could not be clearer; Waterford has suffered more than most counties from the economic downturn. Many people I have met on the canvass are struggling to cope and are desperate for the Government to take a proactive lead in ensuring that Waterford receives its fair share of support and European funding.

I voted recently in the European Parliament to change the criteria under which applications can be made for the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund. It will now be easier for EU funds to be deployed to help laid off workers in Waterford Crystal and in downstream companies which have also been affected.

The Government must apply for monies from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund as a matter of urgency to deliver benefits for the laid off workers in Munster. The Government has no reason not to submit an application now. Any delay on the Government’s part will only further prolong the struggle being experienced by Waterford workers and their families.. There is also nothing preventing the Government from now putting mechanisms in place to prepare for the retraining and up skilling of those that have been made redundant.

Under the new rules, member states will be able to apply for financial support for businesses that lay off 500 or more workers, as opposed to the current threshold of 1,000.Over the next two years, the level of EU-provided financial support will increase to 75%, compared to the current 50%,. The ball is now in the Government’s court to proceed with an application. If it is successful the EU will provide €3 to match every euro the Government puts forward, up until now it was euro for euro.In real terms this should mean greater funding to help retrain and upskill and give entrepreneurial advice to workers laid off. It sends a strong message from the heart of Europe that funds are there to help those who, through no fault of their own, are affected by this crisis. Assistance of this kind is paramount so that those laid off can recover and drive Ireland out of recession.

Limerick: Dell workers will get EU funding but important to wait until full extent of job losses are known–Colm Burke MEP

The following is a statement issued by FG MEP Colm Burke in relation to the Dell workers:

I have learned from the EU Commission that funding will be made available to the Dell workers in Limerick but that the application for funding should not be made until the full extent of the job losses becomes clear. I will be attending a public meeting tonight (Friday 10th April) with the Dell workers. It is vitally important that we maximise the number of people that benefit from this funding. The real extent of the job losses caused by the down-sizing of the Dell plant will not be known until later in the year when the knock-on effect on downstream industries is clear. These people will also be able to benefit from the funding but only if the Government includes them in the application.Funding can be made available to workers in a region when more than 1,000 direct and indirect jobs are lost as a result of changing trade patterns. The funding is available under the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) which aims to help workers made redundant as a result of changing global trade patterns to find another job as quickly as possible.

I have been previously been advised by the EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Vladamir Špilda that any application for EU funding on behalf of the Dell workers in Limerick who are losing their jobs would be looked at “favourably”. In addition I have been liaising with the European Commission to determine the appropriateness of the fund for certain cases in Ireland and I have been informed that there is enough money on the EU side to help Irish workers once the Government agrees to match the funding”.
The fund is essential to help the former Dell workers and those in places like Banta-Donnelly re-enter the workforce and contribute to bringing Ireland out of the recession”.