Would the Commissioner not agree that the Commission should do everything possible to maintain jobs in the efficient steel industry? I speak in particular with regard to a problem which we are facing at present in my constituency in Munster in Ireland where the national steel mill is under threat of closure. Fortunately the unions representing the 550 workers at the plant have now agreed to implement a plan to make the company viable. This will be the first time that European money has been involved in the Irish steel plant. This is a last chance for the plant as a whole, but it is also a last chance for the 550 employees in Irish Steel, as well as the other 1,000 employees who work in the associated service industries.

Would you agree that some form of subsidy should be allowed to make these plants efficient?