Mixed fortunes on jobs front

The positive news that 350 new seasonal and full-time jobs are to be created was tempered yesterday by the loss of 140 positions at a Galway-based diagnostics company.

Beckman Coulter, the US multinational lab devices firm, announced yesterday it is to close its plant in Galway’s Mervue Business Park with the loss of 140 jobs.

The company, which has operated in Galway for more than 40 years, said the decision was taken following a “review of operations” by the plant’s parent company in recent months.