State agency urged to enter talks to rehire 100 workers

Jimmy Woulfe, Mid-West Correspondent

Shannon Development had agreed a sale with Limerick consortium MMDS for the building in Gillogue. The deal was being made on the basis that MMDS would continue the production of cardboard boxes, which was carried out at the site by Fitzpack, before it went into liquidation in February 2004.

But Shannon Development called off the sale after the E3.25 million price tag came under attack. Experts said the property was worth far in excess of what had been agreed.

Limerick Fianna Fáil TD Peter Power yesterday welcomed the proposal by the out-of-work Fitzpack workers that the building be opened to MMDS to enable them to get the business back up and running.

Mr Power said: “This is the ideal solution. It would see the creation of 100 jobs, 50 almost immediately.”

Denis O’Carroll, spokesman for the former Fitzpack workers, said MMDS had agreed with the liquidator to pay E2.5m for state-of-the-art machinery in the plant.

“If this deal was on offer in Bertie Ahern’s or Micheál Martin’s constituencies to get workers back to work, doors would be kicked in to get it sorted out,” he said.

“Shannon Development have been very helpful and they should now go ahead and continue talks with MMDS,” he added.

He said MMDS had set out their plans to the former Fitzpack workers and many of them were ready to resume production under the new management.

More were lined up to return at a later date.

Mr O’Carroll added: “Talking about letting an opportunity go. We are talking about up to 100 jobs. Imagine what it would cost the State to create 100 new jobs. All the workers being taken on by MMDS are experienced and most are middle-aged.”

He called on Shannon Development to recommence talks with MMDS.