Martin and Ahern deny they knew of Amgen U-turn

THE two Cork-based ministers in charge of state enterprise policy flatly denied yesterday that they had prior knowledge of Amgen’s decision not to proceed with plans to locate in Ireland.

Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin and the Minister of State for Innovation Policy Micheál Ahern insisted yesterday that they first learned on Tuesday that the American biotechnology giant had aborted its plan to create up to 1,100 jobs in the east Cork town of Carrigtwohill, Mr Ahern’s political base.

Mr Ahern’s constituency FF colleague Ned O’Keeffe suggested to the Irish Examiner this week that his constituents were “misled” about Amgen’s plans and said it was obvious for two years that the American multinational would not be locating in Ireland.