Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

Abbott is a flagship company for the town of Clonmel and for County Tipperary and the general region. It has a workforce of approximately 1,500 employees who are highly skilled and committed. The company is a key driver for the local and regional economy and a significant number of downstream jobs running into the thousands are dependent on the company's location at Clonmel. Together with Deputy Tom Hayes and Deputy Mattie McGrath, I visited the company earlier this year and I know the local management and staff are very committed to the long-term future of the company at Clonmel. I refer to the valuable work which is carried out so efficiently. The company has confirmed the loss of 150 jobs in November. This is a severe blow to the workers and their families and to the south Tipperary area. Some unconfirmed reports suggest there might be further job losses in March 2013 which, if true, would be a very worrying development. I ask the Minister if he has information with regard to the situation at Abbott and I ask him to engage with the company to ensure every effort is made by him and by the State agencies to offer whatever support and resources are required to maintain existing levels of employment at the plant.

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