Unions meet management at Wicklow MSD plant over job losses

Unions at Merck Sharp and Dohme are meeting with management, after the news that the Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow, branch is to close with the loss of 280 jobs.

Staff have been told there will be no redundancies until the end of 2014.

Jobs Minister Richard Bruton, who is in Houston on a trade mission, said the company has re-affirmed its commitment to its Irish operations, which employ 2,000 people across Carlow, Cork, Dublin and Tipperary.

They are not affected by today's news.

Minister Bruton has given a guarantee that the IDA will work to attract alternative employers to the region over the next two years, while the company restructures.