Minister’s detachment was astonishing

IN relation to the job losses at Motorola in Cork, I was amazed at the remark of Enterprise, Trade and Employment Minister Micheál Martin that the “methodology by which a company announces its decisions is entirely 100% a matter for the company. I have no role in that. The IDA have no role in that.” (Irish Examiner, February 1).

This reveals an astonishing level of detachment on the minister’s part. In case he has forgotten, he is also a local TD and, as such, it was his duty to make enquiries and representations on an issue that may have serious repercussions for the local economy and affect the livelihoods of hundreds of his constituents.

I wonder how many major foreign investments in Ireland the minister or the IDA have failed to claim some credit for? I was the letter-writer alluded to in your report. I sent that letter warning of the imminent crisis at Motorola to the minister’s office and his constituency address, but I got no reply.