FG demands immediate action on job losses

Fine Gael TD Michael Ring has called for urgent action to foster job creation in the Co Mayo town of Westport, hit by job losses today.

The call follows the announcement this morning that US pharmaceutical firm Allergan was planning to lay off 325 of its workers in the town before next June.

Mr Ring said the job losses would be devastating and he wanted assurances that Minister for Enterprise and Employment Micheál Martin would take action to protect the area.

"I don't want a task force," he said. "What I want now is I want to see that minister down in Westport immediately to reassure the workers that are there, the 625 jobs that's going to be left, I want to see the minister down to make sure that these jobs are protected."

Minister Martin said his department would continue to work in partnership with local public representatives and authorities to promote and develop Westport as a location for business.

The minister said he was very disappointed by the decision to lay off workers.

“We all feel for the difficulties of the people involved, their families and friends. Job losses always bring with them great uncertainty, anxiety and stress to the individuals involved and the community as a whole” he said.