Sir, - "What went wrong? Why it happened. Who's to blame". These were headlines in The Irish Times of December 12th.
In an age where you can manufacture anything anywhere at any time and sell it everywhere it is perhaps surprising to see such headlines and read The Irish Times's account of the effect of Seagate's closure. Society in Ireland is perhaps not being informed, or informing itself, about the normal business procedures of multi-national or globalised company. What we have seen at Clonmel last week is likely to be the start of a process which will see many of these globe-trotters decamping from Ireland and moving on to the next country in vogue due to its perceived value and profitability. This transience applies not only apply to information-age companies, but equally to process companies, light and heavy manufacturers, and service operators.
In my view what we are witnessing is a natural phenomenon of our time. No one is to blame: it will happen, it is happening all over the world. The Irish Government honestly inform society about employment opportunities with such companies; such employment is risky.
For the Government to sell inward investment as anything other than risky for the potential workforce is mischievous and, in extreme cases, fraudulent. Greater emphasis by the State must be given to self-employment and developing a greater independence from the country-hopping profiteer. - Yours, etc.
From Prof Albert Hamilton
Centre for Project Management, University of Limerick.