THE Minister for Enterprise and Employment met executives of a major tyre company in Ohio yesterday to discuss the possible purchase of the Semperit plant in Dublin.
Mr Bruton visited the Cooper Tyre Company, in Findlay Ohio which is believed to be looking for its first European outlet. The Semperit plant in Ballyfermot Dublin, is due to close in December with the loss of 650 jobs.
A spokesman for Mr Bruton said at present Coopers did not have an opening in Europe and it was very anxious to establish a plant outside the US.
The spokesman added that the Minister would be back in Ireland today. Mr Bruton has been in the US since last Saturday on an IDA promotional tour and planned to meet senior executives of 12 multi nationals to discuss the closures at Semperit, Tambrands in Tipperary, and Schiesser in Carrick on Suir.
German rubber industry giant Continental AG announced it was to close the Semperit tyre plant eight days ago. Last week, union representatives met the IDA chief executive Mr Kieran McGowan to discuss plans to seek new buyers. Although there are 15 companies internationally which could take over the plant, only four are considered serious bidders: the Cooper Tyre Company, a Japanese company, Hangkook, and two Korean firms, Kunho and Toyo.