Michael Ahern (Cork East, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senator for raising this matter on the Adjournment. I learnt with grave disappointment of the decision by TexTech Limited to cease production at its Kilkenny facility with the loss of 75 jobs. I understand that closure will take place on a phased basis over the next few weeks

TexTech Industries is a privately owned US company headquartered in Portland, Maine. It is involved in textile engineering and fabrication for high performance industrial application. Owing to financial losses incurred in 2001, the company closed two of its six manufacturing operations worldwide.

The Kilkenny facility has operated since 1985 manufacturing woven felt for tennis balls. It sells its product to Tretom, Penn, Bridgestone and MSP among others, and has been one of the more profitable parts of the company historically. In more recent times, however, the Irish plant has been struggling to contain costs and is under pressure from a newly established manufacturing facility in Thailand.