Novartis Ireland yesterday confirmed that it plans to cut production at its Ringaskiddy plant because of over-supply, but it insisted it would not result in job losses among the plant's 320 workforce.
According to a spokesperson for the pharmaceutical company, the over-supply of product had arisen following the merger in 1997 of Sandoz and Ciba Geigy and would result in a cutback in 24-hour a day production from seven to five days a week.
According to Novartis Ring askiddy managing director, Mr Franz Sutter, the cutback will have no impact on current staff levels or any impact on the 95 finance jobs announced last week by the Taoiseach for a new Novartis service centre.