12/04/2013

21 Jobs Lost Following Brewery Closure

Fianna Fáil Cllr in Waterford Gary Wyse says the closure of the Diageo brewery in the city with the loss of 21 jobs is another bitter blow to Waterford.

Cllr Wyse commented: "My thoughts are with the workers in the Diageo brewery and their families after today’s announcement. This is another bitter blow for Waterford and adds to the string of recent job losses in the region.

"The South East has the highest unemployment rate in the country and again Waterford is feeling the brunt of the economic downturn. The county has been abandoned by the Government and with plans to downgrade Waterford Regional Hospital; the heart and soul of the county is being ripped out.

"The Diageo brewery is one of the most iconic buildings in Waterford and I'm baffled at this announcement considering €40 million was invested by the company here in 2006. While 21 jobs will be lost directly, there is a genuine fear that more jobs will be under threat as hauliers and suppliers have now lost a vital source of income.

"The Government has neglected Waterford and we have seen no discernible efforts to make the county a priority. We have heard such schemes as the Jobs Initiative, NewEra, and Jobs Action Plan from the government, but these are more about generating headlines than generating jobs.

"The issue of unemployment in Waterford now needs an urgent response from this Government if it is serious about the commitments it has given to attract employers here. A concerted effort must now be made by the IDA and the Government to prioritise Waterford for investment."

(CD/H)

Related Northern Ireland Recruitment News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

18 February 2014
Call For High Levels Of Unemployment To Be Addressed
Sinn Féin Senator David Cullinane has called on the Government to urgently address the dangerously high levels of unemployment in the city and county. Senator Cullinane said that the Southeast is being left behind and neglected despite promises from the Government that much more needs to be done.
06 June 2012
Coffey Urges IDA To Deliver Jobs In Waterford
Fine Gael Waterford Deputy, Paudie Coffey, has urged the IDA to deliver on investment and jobs in Waterford. Deputy Coffey was speaking after the IDA’s South East Regional Manager said that site visits to Waterford and the south east this year by prospective investorshave surpassed those carried out during all of 2011.
05 January 2010
Waterford Crystal Sale Shatters Hopes
Former staff hoping to get back to their jobs at Waterford Crystal have seen their hopes shattered as the site goes up for sale today.
01 November 2007
Government Will Support Redundant Waterford Workers
Every effort will be made by the Government to find new jobs for hundreds of Waterford Crystal employees facing redundancy, Minister for Finance Brian Cowen has told the Dáil. Tánaiste Mr Cowen, who was deputising for the Taoiseach, said the job losses were trade-related and inevitable.
01 November 2007
Waterford To Shed 500 Staff
It has emerged that 500 jobs are likely to be lost at Waterford Crystal. Workers' representatives have already been told to expect an announcement on restructuring at the plant.