This article is from page 4 of the 2007-08-28 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
THE mayors of Clare and Shannon have expressed concern that the air of uncertainty caused by the poten- tial loss of Aer Lingus’s Shannon- Heathrow service has been further compounded by the recent announce- ment of over 260 job losses at three mid-west manufacturing firms.
Last Wednesday, Shannon-based tool manufacturing company Mo- hawk Europa announced its closure with the loss of 90 jobs; on Thursday, Analog Devices confirmed plans to shed 150 posts at its Limerick plant.
On Friday, Rothenberger Ireland con- firmed the loss of up to 20 jobs with the relocation of the manufacturing element of its operation to Germany and Spain.
Mayor of Clare, Councillor Patricia McCarthy said the losses have set a dangerous precedent for other manu- facturing operations in the region.
“Shannon has for many decades been the major hub for manufactur- ing in Clare. Should the haemorrhag- ing of manufacturing jobs continue at its current pace, I fear that the foun- dation for development in the county and wider region will be fatally un-
dermined,” she explained.
According to Mayor of Shannon, Cllr Sean McLoughlin, “While the link between this week’s recent jobs losses in the mid-west and the cur- rent dispute over direct flights to London are unknown, it is impera- tive that the Government is reminded of the potential for further significant job losses in the future.”
Mayor McLoughlin expressed concern that job losses were not be- ing counteracted with the creation of new jobs. “I want to know what the Government is going to do about protecting existing jobs and generat-
ing new employment in the manufac- turing sector.”
Several companies had already warned of the possible consequences of the Aer Lingus announcement. Within hours of confirmation of the airline’s intention, local companies claimed jobs would be lost in the re- gion if the service was discontinued.
General Manager of industrial dia- mond maker Element Six, Mr Ken Sullivan said his company would have a “very uncertain future in Shannon if an alternative route or carrier 1s not identified before the Aer Lingus service is withdrawn.”