The company and unions at Packard Electric in Tallaght were urged by Mr Pat Rabbitte to adhere to their agreement last year so that their energies would be devoted to securing the future of the plant.

The Minister of State for Technology, Mr Rabbitte, and the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Mr Richard Bruton, had met the company yesterday.

The company reiterated its commitment to increasing its competitiveness but had said business prospects for 1966 "remain poor". The company was not able to say how many employees were likely to be involved in a redundancy programme. Mr Rabbitte hoped with goodwill on all sides negotiations between management and unions would secure the plant's future.

Mr Rabbitte was responding, in an adjournment debate, to Ms Mary O'Rourke, deputy FF leader, and Mr Chris Flood (FF, Dublin West).