No time should be lost by the Government in preparing a strategy to protect workers in MBNA should the disposal of the business fail to secure the jobs in Carrick-on-Shannon.

This was stated by North and West Independent MEP Marian Harkin when she urged the Government to prepare the ground for accessing the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund in the interest of MBNA workers.

She said:- “My initiative to secure a €40 million package for the construction industry will hopefully come to fruition shortly but this has taken 15 months to negotiate.  Should MBNA fail to be sold we need to immediately plan for a programme of support for the Carrick-on-Shannon workers involving re-training and incentives to develop new business ventures for those directly and indirectly affected.

“Hopefully MBNA will be sold to a buyer who will retain all of the current jobs but should this not happen we need to be aware of the inadequacy of previous applications to the Globalisation Fund and be ready to speedily access funding available from that fund", Marian Harkin MEP concluded.