“We are here to ask the Government to work in partnership with the workers and the Quinn Group, to step up to the plate, to be proactive and not to stand back and let events take over”.  This was stated by Marian Harkin when she addressed a rally in support of the Quinn workers in Merrion Square, Dublin

“This is an employee led initiative, this is about the 5,500 direct jobs and the 40,000 jobs relying on the Quinn Group – this is about quality jobs and this is about the economic survival of border Communities.  The workers have no difficulty with regulation, but timing is crucial.  The speed of the action could lead to some destabilisation of the Quinn Group and the ban on selling new insurance business in Northern Ireland and the UK is hugely damaging to the profitability of the Company. 

Sarkozy moved to support Renault in France, Merkel moved to support the automotive industry in Germany and Obama moved to protect General Motors in the US.

The Quinn Group is a hugely strategic company that helps to underpin the economy of an entire region – the Government must move rapidly to insure the Company is stabilised and jobs are protected” Marian Harkin concluded.