Redundancy pay proposals to be with Cabinet shortly

Proposals for improved redundancy payments will be brought to Cabinet within the next two weeks, the Tánaiste told the Dáil in a row over job losses.

The legislation to increase payments would be published "very quickly", Ms Harney said during heated exchanges with the Opposition, which demanded a debate on unemployment following the announcement of the Technicolour Home Entertainment factory closure in Youghal with the loss of 230 jobs.

When TDs repeatedly demanded a discussion about job losses, Ms Harney replied that the rate of unemployment in Ireland "is almost half that in the EU".

"Tell that to the people of Youghal," said Mr David Stanton (FG, Cork East).

Ms Harney referred to an economic forecast of 100,000 new jobs over the next four years, to which the response was: "Come back to this planet."

Amid persistent heckling and criticism, the Tánaiste said she wished "the deputies opposite would stop getting on to me for work permits for people to come in from outside the EEA, if there are such pressures here".

During the order of business, when the Dáil's agenda for the day is set, the Labour leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte, said industrial employment was down 18,000 last year and redundancies had doubled since 2000. Mr Rabbitte also referred to reports that some employers who were "downsizing", were "bringing forward the redundancies" to evade the terms of the legislation.

An attempt earlier by two deputies, Mr Joe Sherlock (Lab, Cork East) and Mr Dan Boyle (Green, Cork South-Central) to have an emergency debate on Youghal where a further 160 jobs were lost six weeks ago, was ruled out of order.

Later Labour's deputy leader, Mr Brendan Howlin, repeated the call for a debate and said the Dáil should respond "to the haemorrhaging of jobs". Special debates on Northern Ireland and Iraq or other pending issues of great importance were allowed. "Few issues are of greater importance at present than the economic situation and the job losses, which have been faced and are about to be faced."

Two Cavan-Monaghan TDs, Mr Seymour Crawford (FG) and Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (SF) voiced concern about the winding down of Lissadell Towels and CPV in Monaghan, while Mr Eamon Gilmore, Labour's environment spokesman, asked about the facilities for recycling glass, following the closure of Ardagh Glass in Dublin.

Ms Harney was asked when the House would discuss the new pay talks framework document in the light of the closures.

She said it would be good to have the debate when the social partners had finalised their negotiations.