Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I express my thoughts, sympathies and solidarity with the two workers injured following the explosion at the Stryker plant in Carrigtohill, County Cork, on Tuesday. We understand one of those workers remains in a critical condition on life support. I extend my solidarity and that of my Labour Party colleagues to the workers and their families. My office and that of my colleague, Deputy Sherlock, has been in contact with SIPTU this week concerning this awful incident. The Labour Party backs SIPTU's call for an urgent meeting to discuss grave safety concerns on the three Stryker sites at Carrigtohill. The union has been seeking such engagement with management at the plant since 2019. It should not take such a shocking event as this to precipitate engagement on safety concerns, especially as the Health and Safety Authority, HSA, is already investigating several workplace accidents at Stryker.

Stryker is an IDA Ireland-backed company employing thousands of people in Cork and Limerick. The Government has a role here. What representations has it made to Stryker to ensure quick and meaningful engagement about health and safety on their sites and a recognition of the union to engage with the company?

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