No jobs meltdown, says IDA chief

IDA Ireland bosses stressed the country was not facing a jobs meltdown following some high-profile plant closures this year.

Chemicals giant Pfizer is currently reviewing the future of two plants putting 480 jobs at risk. Motorola has shut its Cork plant with the loss of over 330 jobs while biopharmaceutical giant Amgen has delayed a massive investment in Carrigtwohill, Co Cork, where 1,200 jobs were promised.

In the first three months alone an estimated 2,500 jobs were lost that also included 360 jobs at Procter & Gamble in Nenagh and 200 jobs in Thompson Scientific in Limerick.