Irish Jobs Call

national | miscellaneous | news report Friday March 07, 2003 16:24 by Ailin

An extra ten percent will be added to the unemployment rate in Tipperary Town following the loss of 150 jobs in the Pall Ireland plant, the local branch of Republican Sinn Fein stated today.

Geraldine MacNamara from St. Michael’s terrace, a member of
the RSF Ard Comhairle said that over one thousand people in the town are already unemployed.

“Tipperary Town is already a jobs black spot,” said Ms. MacNamara.

“These latest losses, when the company end production of medical products in Tipperary, will have a devastating effect on the area.

“The Pall Ireland losses are the latest in a series of closures and cutbacks by multi-national companies. The time has now come to seriously question the tax incentives given to major corporations.

“We are seeing these huge corporations take advantage of the tax breaks to establish here but then relocate to third world countries. While these multi-national corporations are lured here with low tax rates, the indigenous industries are almost ignored and refused similar tax incentives. Yet the Irish owned companies are providing more stable and secure employment.

“There is now a compelling argument for a more favourable tax approach towards Irish indigenous industry. It is only by linking jobs to the local economy that employment can be safeguarded.

“Indigenous industry deserves to be supported in a more imaginative way by industrial development policy. The time to overhaul industrial policy is long overdue – our over dependence on “fly by night” multi-national corporations must be tackled and reduced and Irish jobs fully
supported.”

(Ends)
Issued on Friday 7th March 2003