US drug giant Amgen has dismissed claims that it does not intend to proceed with plans for a 1,100-job manufacturing plant in Co Cork. Paul Cullenreports.
A spokeswoman for the company described the claims, which surfaced repeatedly in Cork during the election campaign, as "speculative" and "totally unfounded".
Last month, Amgen announced that it was delaying by two years plans to build the €820 million factory in Carrigtwohill. This came just 15 months after IDA Ireland beat off international competition to secure the deal with Amgen, the world's largest bio-pharmaceutical manufacturer.
Amgen had planned to employ 1,100, including 750 graduates, by 2010. This will not now happen until 2012 at the earliest.
The spokeswoman said that Amgen remained committed to having a sizeable presence in Ireland.
"The amount of additional capacity we intend to develop in Cork, the overall capital investment and the number of staff we plan to employ long-term has not changed, but we are staggering and extending our timelines to allow for a more efficient project execution."
Construction of the bulk drug manufacturing facility would begin in late 2008, she said. Before then, an additional €55-€74 million was being invested to develop the site and carry out engineering works to enable a rapid start of construction, subject to planning approval. "Work continues at our site. We continue to pursue the planning process."
The plant is expected to operate from late 2012 and be licensed a year later. Further work allowing the production of finished drug products would be completed in late 2013.
"We will of course continue to monitor our needs to determine whether we need to adjust or accelerate the construction start," the spokeswoman added.
Amgen has hired 130 people in Cork since the announcement. The company says some would be needed on the project, while others would be redeployed within the organisation.