Minister for Enterprise Batt O'Keeffe has described as "deeply regrettable" pharmaceutical firm Pfizer's announcement today it is to cut almost 800 jobs at its Irish operations.
The company plans to lay off 785 in Ireland as it prepares to shed 6,000 jobs worldwide over the next five years. Some 275 jobs will go at Newbridge, Co Kildare; 210 in Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin; 225 at Loughbeg, Ringaskiddy, Co Cork and 75 at Shanbally, Co Cork. Employees were told of the plans this afternoon.
"Although the company plans to cut its global headcount by 6,000, Pfizer remains a major multinational employer in Ireland, with more than 4,200 workers involved in the manufacture of high-end products for the life science industry worldwide,’ Mr O'Keeffe said in a statement.
"Although the 275 job losses in Newbridge are devastating for the workers, their families and communities, it should be acknowledged that the company has retained a workforce of 770 in the plant."
The Minister said the Government’s priority would be to provide training and re-employment services to the 275 workers losing their jobs in Newbridge and to work with Pfizer to save the other 510 jobs at risk due to the planned closure of plants in Cork and Dublin.
"I have asked IDA Ireland to begin the search for other major players in the life science sector to take over the facilities in Loughbeg and Shanbally in Cork and Dún Laoghaire in Dublin over the 18-month to five-year closure period set by PGM [Pfizer Global Manufacturing]," said the Minister, adding the Government would do all it could to support the company's growth plans in Ireland.
Leo Varadkar, Fine Gael’s enterprise spokesman, said the loss of so many jobs in such an important employer was a sign of meltdown in the multinational sector.
“This is a terrible day for Ireland and its multinational sector,” the Dublin TD said. “Ireland is taking a much bigger hit than other countries, with three of the eight sites that are being ‘exited’ located in this country.” Mr Varadkar said a lack of competitiveness in Ireland had to have played a part in Pfizer’s decision.
Party colleague Simon Coveney said said the Pfizer losses, including 300 in Cork, in should prompt IDA policy changes. "I'm calling on the IDA to review their policy of prioritising the locating of foreign direct investment in regions outside of Cork and Dublin. Clearly now the Cork region needs to have high priority status in any IDA strategy to bring multi nationals to Ireland," he said.
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said the jobs loss was one of the biggest ever announced in the Dún Laoghaire area.
“I hope that the Government is not simply going to throw in the towel in the face of the Pfizer announcement,” the Dún Laoghaire TD said. “The jobs are to go over the next 18 months and prompt intervention on the part of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation could yet result in at least some of these jobs being saved.”
Sinn Féin employment spokesman Arthur Morgan said the absence of a job creation package was crippling the State's economic recovery. “While Pfizer are cutting jobs globally, this has dealt another crippling blow to the Irish labour market, where there are no prospects of alternative employment," he said.
In a statement, Siptu said its officials would be seeking an urgent meeting with Pfizer. "Our main priority is to protect our members' interests in whatever way possible. Today's announcement has come as a devastating blow to Pfizer employees in Dublin, Kildare and Cork," said Siptu branch organiser Michelle Quinn.
Pfizer is planning to cut its global workforce in four sites over the next four years. This is aimed at integrating the Pfizer and Wyeth manufacturing and supply organisations which have overcapacity following the company's takeover of Wyeth late last year.