Pfizer To Cut 150 Jobs

Kildare Fianna Fáil TD Seán Ó Fearghaíl has called on the government to immediately engage with management at Pfizer following the news of 150 job cuts at the Newbridge plant.

Deputy Ó Fearghaíl had raised concerns about pending job cuts at the plant with the Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton in September, but the Minister said he was not aware of any planned lay-offs.

"This is an extremely sad day for the staff at Pfizer in Newbridge and for the county as a whole. My thoughts are with them. Pfizer has been an important employer in Newbridge for more than 20 years, providing high-value employment and a much needed boost to the local economy.

"It has led the way in the healthcare manufacturing sector in Ireland. Any scaling back of the operation is deeply regrettable," said Deputy Ó Fearghaíl.

"I have been concerned for some time about the threat of more job cuts at Pfizer. I raised the matter with Minister Bruton in a Parliamentary Question two months ago and he said he was not aware of impending cuts.

"Instead of dismissing my concerns, I would have hoped the Minister would take the matter seriously and meet with Pfizer management about the future of its Newbridge operation.

"It's just three years since Pfizer announced 275 job cuts in Newbridge and only a year since it cut a further 177 positions at its operation in Little Island and Ringaskiddy, Co Cork. I want to know what engagement the Government had with the company since it last announced job cuts a year ago. Has Minister Bruton engaged with management at any stage to address the challenges facing Pfizer's Irish operation?"

(CD/JP)