Twist in battle to retain 5,000 potential jobs

THERE has been a dramatic new twist in the tug-of-war battle between Kerry and Derry for a multi-billion euro pharmaceutical project that has the potential to create close on 5,000 new jobs.

Backers of the €4.7 billion project have been told by the Government they must present a firm business plan “at the very least” if they are to entertain any hopes of securing financial backing from state agencies such as the IDA and Enterprise Ireland.

The Global Pharmaceutical Centre of Excellence (GPCE) team warned they were considering abandoning plans to set up in Kerry and move the entire operation to the North because of alleged inaction by state agencies.