Taoiseach intervenes to help Quinn

ENTERPRISE Ireland has been drafted in by the Taoiseach in an attempt to alleviate the threat of job losses at the Quinn Group – the general insurance division which was placed in provisional administration by the High Court last week.

In a short statement, published yesterday, the Taoiseach’s office said that Mr Cowen had spoken directly with Quinn Group chairman, Sean Quinn on Thursday night. In the aftermath of the conversation, Mr Cowen asked the chairman and chief executive of Enterprise Ireland to meet with Quinn representatives “to see if they can be of any assistance.”

While Enterprise Ireland’s potential role remains vague, Mr Cowen said yesterday that the request was aimed at protecting the 5,500 jobs in the wider Quinn Group.