POLITICIANS in Swords and surrounding areas are calling on the Government to urgently find replacement industries following the devastating news that 570 people are to lose their jobs at pharmaceutical company MSD.
Swords ward councillor Darragh Butler (FF) described the news as
“terrible
? for the employees and their families especially so close to Christmas.
“Our first thoughts have to be with them,
? he told Northside People.
“The Government agencies must get together and use the timescale built into this to bring replacement industries to Swords.
“This of course will also have a huge knock on effect on Swords and North Dublin businesses who the employees would have supported over the years.
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Cllr Butler added:
“We need a real action plan put in place and soon by the Government agencies to bring jobs such as these back to Swords.
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Senator Darragh O’Brien (FF) described the announcement as a hammer blow.
“The fact that the plant will not cease all operations until the end of 2017 means there is time for the Government to engage proactively in sourcing alternative investment or a potential buyer for the plant,
? said Senator O’Brien.
“I am calling on the Government to ensure the State agencies, the IDA and Enterprise Ireland, backed-up by support from Minister Richard Bruton get involved immediately. from page 1
“There is a lot of expertise at this facility in the pharmaceutical and life sciences area.
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Senator O’Brien added:
“They need to look at the plant itself, the physical assets as well as the workforce which is as good as any in the world and use this opportunity over the coming months to highlight that message to alternative investors.
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Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly, described the news as a body blow for the town.
“It is deeply upsetting for the workers in the plant and for their families
to get this highly worrying news, particularly in the run up to Christmas,
? he said.
“I pledge to play my part to make certain that the Government takes all
appropriate action for the future of the plant and to ensure that jobs are
saved.
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Dublin Bay North TD Tommy Broughan called on Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, and the IDA to work swiftly to obtain a large business in North Dublin to replace MSD.
“There are around 21,000 unemployed in the immediate region with many thousands more in employment schemes and retraining opportunities,
? he said.
“In the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), there are 4,206 people signing on at the Swords social protection office.
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Minister Bruton vowed that all the supports of the State would be made available to the affected workers.
“Clearly my first thoughts are with the workers and their families as they face uncertainty after the announcement,
? he stated.
“The company and IDA will work aggressively to market this site, which has a number of factors which make it attractive for potential purchasers as a going concern.
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A spokesperson for MSD said:
“The proposed action is an outcome of MSD’s ongoing review of its worldwide manufacturing capabilities and is representative of the company’s global initiative to sharpen its commercial and R&D focus and improve overall operational effectiveness.
“No employees will leave before mid-2014 at the earliest. In the second half of 2014 it is anticipated that approximately 130 people would leave the organisation and the remaining positions would be phased out over the following three years.
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Dublin North Sinn Féin representative, Malachy Quinn, said:
“Everything must be done to help the workers and their families. I am calling on the Government to act immediately to provide assistance and training for the workers.
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While it was mostly a black week on the jobs front for Swords, there was some welcome news when the Wright Bar Group announced that it is to create 100 new jobs with the opening of two new venues.
The 7,000 square foot Hogs and Heffers Club premises located on South Quarter, Airside Retail Park, and the Baroque Club at the Wright Venue both opened last weekend.
Michael JF Wright of the Wright Bar Group said:
“Last year saw pubs closing in Ireland at the rate of one every 48 hours. Despite these conditions the Wright Bar Group has gone from strength to strength and I am thrilled to announce our most recent expansion.
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