Job losses pose threat to coalition

LIKE global warming, the repercussions of global corporate decisions can be devastating.

At the stroke of a pen in New York or Tokyo, scores of jobs can be wiped out in Dublin, Donegal, Cork or Waterford.

A painful example of this process is now manifest as global drugs giant Pfizer moves to close part of its Irish operation with the loss of 65 jobs. The company will also sell two plants with a 480-strong workforce over the next two years.