Sir, - The closure of Asahi highlights once again our dependence on multinational companies to provide jobs. And as with Semperit in Ballyfermot and Packard in Tallaght, Government Ministers have promised the workers a task force to try to attract another multinational to the area. But, unfortunately for many of the workforce, they have earned their last pay packet.
In light of this and the quarter-of-a-million unemployed, it is scandalous that the mineral wealth which Ireland has in abundance is being exported without thought to providing any longterm benefit to the Irish people.
Navan, Co Meath, Galmoy, Co Kilkenny and Lisheen, Co Tipperary make Ireland the biggest producer of lead and zinc. It is morally wrong that this wealth, which is owned by the Irish people, should be exported raw, benefiting only a handful of very wealthy people. A smelter would create high-value lead and zinc products. Without a smelter we miss the opportunity to develop industries manufacturing products such as car parts, fridges, and washing machines.
Our mineral wealth provides a great opportunity to create a sound manufacturing base here, which, in addition to highly skilled jobs, would also provide many semi-skilled and unskilled jobs and also the service jobs that would follow. High-tech jobs are very welcome, but provision must be made for the bulk of those making up the unemployed figures.
Ireland is much the same as third-world countries in allowing our natural resources to be exported raw for the benefit of others rather than developing these materials for the benefit of the Irish people, many of whom are on the poverty line. Not only do we allow this scandal but we encourage it through our fiscal policy of very low royalties and special tax concessions. The Workers Party will oppose and highlight this scandal at every opportunity. - Yours, etc., MICHAEL FINNEGAN, Chairman,
Workers Party Trade Union Group,
Lucan,
Co Dublin.