European Election candidate Peter Cassey, who has written two best selling books on Tata, now the largest employer in Donegal has vowed, “I will use my personal influence with major companies in India, US and Australia to encourage them to open up their European hubs in rural Ireland if elected as an MEP in the upcoming election.”
In 2014, the independent candidate for Midlands-North West Constituency used his connections and influence to get Natarajan Chandrasekaran (Chandra), the Chairman of India’s largest company, and many of the Tata leadership team, to come to Ireland, and meet with the Taoiseach, Ministers for Employment and Jobs. He also arranged for Chandra to meet with the Presidents of the Universities and Institutes of Technology at the Shelbourne Hotel to discuss bilateral opportunities. Tata is now the largest employer in Donegal.
“I have a track record here and have already put my money where my mouth is, so to speak, when it comes to helping to create jobs in Ireland,” said the successful businessman. “Tata employs over 1M people globally, and is the largest employer in the private sector in the UK.”
Explaining how he facilitated the deal with Tata – who owns Jaguar Land Rover and Tetley Tea company and have an estimated worth of €350bn with a turnover of over €150B in 2023 – Mr Casey revealed:
“Tata Sons is the parent company and owns a controlling interest in all the Tata publicly traded and privately held companies and in turn is owned and controlled by the two major Tata Philanthropic Trusts, The Ratan Tata Trust and the Dorab Tata Trust – making is one of the largest philanthropic organisations in the world.
“Tata was considering setting up a centre of excellence in Ireland to expand their Massive Open Online Learning (MOOCS) operation. Unfortunately, EU regulations did not permit this as at the time as TCS did not employ enough EU nationals to justify the granting of visas to the Indians that would have to been transferred to support the setting up of the centre!”
“These are people would have been productive the day after they got off the plane helping set up a world class centre of excellence in MOOCS, the future of education in Ireland, and EU regulations prohibited it!
“Fortunately, TCS was able to acquire Pramerica in Letterkenny and now employ 1500 staff, making it one of the largest employers in Donegal!”
In the summer of 2023 the head of the iconic Tata group even paid a surprise visit to Ireland and met with Mr Casey, who came second in the last presidential election.
“In July 2023, I was in Letterkenny hospital and I got a call from Chandra asking, ‘Hello Peter, how are you and where are you?’
“I explained that I was about to be released from the hospital after my third day of intravenous antibiotics for treatment for cellulitis!
“Chandra had decided to take me up on my invitation to explore Donegal and came on an unannounced hiking holiday with his son and wife, who are both avid hikers.
“The next couple of days I showed Chandra around Donegal. He and his family came for dinner at Greencastle and, needless to say, it somewhat surprised and delighted the local management in Letterkenny when we popped in for a cup of tea the next day.
“I have written two best-selling books on Tata, with a third being published in October. I am very proud of my association with Tata and when elected as MEP for Midlands North West, will work hard to help Tata and other multinational companies to use Ireland to expand their footprint into Europe.”
The multinationals pay over 80% of Corporation tax in Ireland and this vital source of revenue must be supported and protected.