Sir, Semperit, how are ye? Semper non bloody it. The arrogance of the German masters of Semperit, Continental AG, surpasses all understanding. They are backing out of the enterprise themselves, in order to batten on the cheap labour force of Eastern Europe, and they refuse to consider the sale of their physical plant to any of their possible competitors that is, to anyone who knows how to build and market a tyre!
These, let us remember, are people to whom the IDA recently gave a rant of £12 million to up grade their plant in Ballyfermot. Could I urge Richard Bruton simply to regard their assets in Ballyfermot as sequestered, and to sell them to the most competent tyre manufacturer he can find, whether American or Asian? Let us give them a run for their money. Semper eamus! Yours, etc
Thormanby Road, Baily, Co. Dublin.