Pall Ireland to shed 150 jobs in Tipperary town

A total of 150 staff are to be laid off at Pall Ireland, Tipperary town's largest employer.

Pall Ireland currently have 230 employees at the Tipperary facility, where they have been operating for the past six years.

The Irish operation is part of Pall Corporation - a global technology firm which manufactures filtration and separation solutions. It has operations in over 30 countries around the world and employees 10,700 people.

Today's move follows a decision to move manufacturing overseas. Production of the company's medical products will be consolidated into existing plants in Puerto Rico and Mexico.

Last month, the Pall Corporation reported a 36 per cent sales increase and a jump of over 70 per cent in earnings.Total revenue in 2002 amounted to €1.3 billion.

Fine Gael's Enterprise, Trade and Employment spokesman, Mr Phil Hogan, blamed the job losses on Government-imposed employment costs.

"It's time that Bertie Ahern and Mary Harney woke up to the devastation that has been caused to so many communities by the growing unemployment caused by their misguided economic policies," he said.

He called on the Government to reverse its decision to abolish rollover relief on capital allowances for businesses, freeze Government charges in an effort to tackle inflation and fast track infrastructural developments to make Ireland more competitive.

The Labour Party's Mr Brendan Howlin, described the job losses as a "devastating blow to the local community."

"This medical company has seen fit to transfer much of its operations to Puerto Rico and Mexico. The Government must ensure that this haemorrhaging of jobs to other parts of the world ends. In recent weeks and months we have had severe job losses in the IT sector, and it is extremely worrying to see other industries follow suit.

"The priority must be to help those who have lost their jobs to re-enter the workforce as quickly as possible. Skilled workers should not be allowed remain out of employment for any prolonged period. The Government must also play its part to ensure Irish workers face no more grim days such as today."