Local representatives have implored the government to take action immediately to help the 180 workers in Cork who have learned that they will lose their jobs by the end of next year.

Employees Herbert Geary and Aidan Coleman pictured leaving pharmaceutical giant Pfizer's global manufacturing plant in Little Island, Cork which has announced it is to shed 180 jobs. The company had been looking for a buyer to take over the facility, but says efforts to sell the plant during the past 18 months have failed. The factory will close next year. Picture: Daragh MacSweeney/Provision

Pfizer announced yesterday (Wednesday, August 6) that 180 jobs are to go at its Little Island facility after the company failed to find a buyer for the plant.

For the past 18 months, the company had been actively trying to sell the facility at Little Island as a going concern and retain employment there, however the company announced yesterday that after much review and analysis the company has now regretfully concluded that all possible avenues and opportunities to find a buyer have been exhausted.

In a statement the company said that they will have to close the Little Island OPS 4 – 6 plant by the end of next year and it is expected that colleague numbers on site will be reduced starting this year, in line with a reduction in activities. The final colleagues will exit by the end of next year. Responding to the news local representatives expressed deep regret and concern at the announcement.

Labour TD, Deputy Ciaran Lynch aid that in light of these and the other recent job losses in the area there is an urgent need for the Government to mobilise the resources that are already at its disposal to assist people in training and up-skilling. "The Government must pull together a co-ordinated response, through FAS, the further education sector, the Institutes of Technologies, and other agencies involved in education and training to start responding to this need," he said.

Fine Gael Cork North Central TD Bernard Allen echoed this sentiment and also raised serious concerns about the future for the 300 workers at Pfizer's second plant in Ringaskiddy which is also on the market. "There is still considerable uncertainty over the future of 300 jobs at Pfizer's plant at Ringaskiddy in Cork, which is also up for sale. The Government must do everything in its power to find a buyer for this plant and prevent further job losses in the area," he said.

Meanwhile Fine Gael TD Deputy Deirdre Clune said that Taoiseach Brian Cowen now needs to assume his leadership and act on the matter. "He must now take action on those aspects of the economy that are within his control: the stalled pay talks, the rate of Irish competitiveness. He must also take positive action to protect the 300 jobs currently under threat in Cork before it's too late."

Lord Mayor Cllr Brian Bermingham said that he regretted the news but added optimistically, that given the company's track record, it is his hope that Pfizers will continue and grow their operations in this area going forward. He added, "National and International pressures are creating an environment that poses difficulties for the operation of many companies. I am confident as the cities first citizen, that Cork will surmount the challenges it now faces on the economic front."

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