Shane Cassells (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the return to full operation of Tara Mines in Navan this week. It is the largest zinc mine in Europe. As Members know from previous discussions in the House, the resumption of operations this week is after an 18-month closure. The closure in the summer of 2023 left more than 600 workers in limbo. They were neither employed nor unemployed. There is a real sense of relief in the town and among the workers, notwithstanding the fact the reopening came at cost because 200 workers took voluntary redundancy as part of the reopening deal. There are still more than 400 workers who have reskilled in new areas. It is essential that we do not have a repeat of the extended lay-off by management, which came at very short notice and the mine was closed practically overnight, or of the manner in which the parent company conducted itself. It is essential we have a fully operational mine in future because there is a large amount of ore. There is now a mine called Tara Deep and we need to see management commit to it. It would be a significant statement of intent. Tara Mines has been in operation for 48 years and it is part of the fabric of the town. People such as me who are 46 years of age grew up knowing Tara Mines at the heart of Navan as part of the fabric of the town. We want to see it for the next 50 years. If the parent company invests in exploration in Tara Deep and secures this employment we will see this happen. I ask the Leader to liaise with the Minister and convey this message before the Houses dissolve. There are plenty who commented on the Government at the time. The Government took every step to make sure the mine reopened. Equally, we want to see management commit now in a very real sense so we have the mine in future.