Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Harty is a medic and he understands the changes in the way drugs are being made. As he is aware, the plant at Clarecastle is not suitable for the next generation of pharma production methods because pharma companies are moving to smaller-volume products. IDA Ireland is working hard. It is talking to companies but it is difficult to get a buyer for an old facility as it would cost a lot of money to change it. One would almost have to knock down the existing facility and start with a brownfield site.

There is a good news story in County Clare in terms of job numbers. A few years ago, almost 12,000 people were unemployed in the county. Today, the figure is closer to 5,000. Jobs are being created in other sectors. The future of work is changing as well in terms of the type of jobs we are attracting into the county. I referred to some positive announcements in that regard. The arrival of the Jaguar Land Rover software facility is a game-changer for the county and there will be other job announcements in the future as well.

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