Employment Commissioner visits Limerick

The EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities was visiting Limerick today for meetings with local community representatives involved in the Moyross Regeneration project and with workers made redundant from the Dell plant.

Speaking ahead of his visit, Vladimir Spidla said: "I am well aware how hard Limerick and its region has been hit by the economic crisis, in the same way many other areas across Europe from Latvia to Spain are also suffering."

"And I hope that my various meetings with local actors as well as workers and trainees will give me a fuller picture of the situation on the ground and help me understand what people are going through and the situation they are facing," Commissioner Spidla added.

Two weeks ago, the European Commission received an application for assistance from the European Globalisation Fund for workers made redundant by Dell and its suppliers.

"I can't tell you yet what the outcome of this application is" said the Commissioner.

"But, I am committed to processing this application as quickly as possible. And as I've said before, as long as the application meets the criteria set out in the regulations, we will look at it favourably."

The Commissioner arrived in Dublin yesterday afternoon and during his stay in the capital held meetings with Tánaiste Mary Coughlan and Minister for European Affairs Dick Roche.