Healthcare giant moves to close Sligo plant three months after taking over

ONE of the world’s biggest pharmaceutical firms is to close a medical plant in Sligo which it took control of just three and a half months ago.

Healthcare giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced yesterday it is to wind down operations at the Stiefel plant in Sligo over the next four years with the loss of 250 jobs.

Tánaiste Mary Coughlan expressed her disappointment at the job losses.

Ms Coughlan said she noted a long “run-down” and would ask the IDA, Enterprise Ireland, Fás and the local County Enterprise Board to support workers.

Local Fine Gael TD John Perry warned that Sligo, which has almost 5,000 people on the dole, was losing jobs at an alarming rate.

“My thoughts are with the staff who are set to lose their jobs,” Mr Perry said.

“This is a terrible day for all the employees, many of whom have given years of service and dedication to the company, which started off with just 10 workers,” he said.

GSK said it sincerely regretted the potential impact of the closure and job losses and said it will do all it can to help affected staff.

Meanwhile, Beru Electronics yesterday confirmed 80 redundancies among the 200-strong workforce at its plant in Tralee, Co Kerry, which manufactures components for the motor industry.

However, the company, which has closed several other plants around the world, said it remained committed to its Tralee facility and would introduce new business lines, where feasible.

Earlier this year, Beru’s Tralee employees were told 80 to 90 jobs were to go and this was confirmed at a meeting with senior management yesterday.

The company has been in Tralee since 1985.

Its products have been severely hit by the global economic downturn and the company said it wanted to bring costs into line and to return the loss-making Tralee plant to profitability.

In Galway, a pharmaceutical company is to create 25 new jobs as it expands its business in Connemara.

Bioniche Pharma employs 160 people in Indreabhán in south Connemara and will create 25 new jobs in the next three years in pharmaceutical research and development.

The provision of a purpose built state-of-the-art R&D pharmaceutical facility, which was developed by Údarás na Gaeltachta adjacent to its existing manufacturing site at a cost of €2.5 million, has facilitated the expansion of the company.