Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 November 2011
130 Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he has engaged in talks with a company (details supplied), in view of the recent job losses at that company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31802/11]
View answerI understand from IDA Ireland that Merck, Sharpe and Dohme (MSD), Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow informed its workforce on 19th October last that it was introducing a programme of 40 redundancies at the facility. MSD currently employs 320 people at Rathdrum. Most of the redundancies will take place in 2012, with the redundancy programme to be completed by late 2012.
The programme is part of MSD's plans to improve cost competitiveness across its manufacturing network. MSD Rathdrum has completed a €55m capital investment programme this year and manufactures Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) for Januvia, a leading Merck drug, and other products.
IDA is in discussion with MSD Rathdrum about a transformation agenda, including an up-skilling programme for the existing workforce, and I have asked that IDA keep me informed of developments in relation to this agenda and the company's redundancy programme.
County Wicklow forms part of the East Region of Ireland and, as such, benefits from being part of the largest and most successful region in the State. In terms of FDI, the East Region has been a success story with a critical mass of population, skills pool, educational infrastructure, international access connections, existing business activity across all sectors and extensive property solutions for future activity.
IDA Ireland's strategy for the East Region is to:
Market the Region to overseas clients in order to secure new investments;
Support the growth and development of the Region's existing clients by working with them to transform their business in the region to create additional employment and sustainability;
Influence the provision of supporting infrastructure to attract foreign direct investment.
Globally the outlook for FDI continues to be challenging in 2011 but a continuing focus on improving competitiveness nationally will place Ireland and the East Region in a favourable position to continue to win further significant FDI investment.
