December 10th: Following the announcement last month that pharmaceuticals manufacturer MSD plans to close its Swords plant by the end of 2017 with the loss of 570 jobs, Unite – which represents almost 400 workers in the facility – today announced that it will be meeting with Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Minister Richard Bruton on Thursday, 12 December to explore options for retaining the high-quality, high-skilled jobs in the North County Dublin facility.

Welcoming Minister Bruton’s engagement, Unite official Tom Fitzgerald said:

“Minister Bruton has highlighted the factors that make this facility attractive for potential purchasers as a going concern.  These include a highly skilled and committed workforce, as well as international demand for technologies in the pharmaceutical sector.

“The long lead-in time before the plant is due to close gives the State time to use all the instruments at its disposal, including IDA engagement, to find a buyer for the plant, thus preserving not only jobs, but also a crucial skillbase in North County Dublin.

“We hope that Thursday’s meeting with Minister Bruton will kick-start a process focussed on retaining these jobs. Unite will do all in our power to assist that process”, Mr Fitzgerald concluded.