The Tánaiste says its going to be a “difficult task” to keep all of the current Cadbury business in Ireland.

The group’s been taken over by the US giant Kraft.

Cadbury currently employs over 1,200 people at plants in Dublin and Kerry.

Mary Coughlan’s told the Dáil that she’s requested a meeting with the Kraft Chief Executive and will give every support possible to the Irish operations who have to put together a new business plan.

But the Tánaiste says this is going to be a real fight.

“I have been advised that this will be a difficult task – as you can appreciate – in the context of overproduction and over-supply that will happen arising from the takeover” she said.

“But that being said, we will be putting our best foot forward and will be giving the necessary support to the workers and to the company here in this country” she added.