360 jobs at risk at Japanese plant in Co. Meath

[MichaelHennigan]

About 360 jobs are at risk at NEC Semiconductors Ireland's plant in Ballivor, Co. Meath.

NEC Semiconductors is a subsidiary of NEC Electronics Corporation Japan which started production in Ballivor, in 1976, manufacturing a range of integrated circuits for the electronics industry.

A meeting of staff is scheduled for 4:00pm this afternoon.

In 1980, IDA Ireland supported a joint proposal from NEC and the tobacco company PJ Carroll & Co to to be the principal supplier of telecom equipment for the then modernisation programme of the Irish telephone system, The Government headed by Charles Haughey rejected the proposal in preference for a proposal from the French telecom manufacturer Alcatel and the Irish company Telectron. The latter was later acquired by US telco AT&T and most of its Irish operations were closed.

On Monday, the State agency Forfás reported that in 2004, 71.6 per cent of total exports came from two sectors, pharmachem (chemicals and pharmaceuticals) and ICT/machinery. Pharmachem exports expanded 4.8 per cent in 2004, and have witnessed dramatic growth since 1999, expanding in aggregate by 77.6 per cent.

Machinery, which includes ICT products, continued its decline in 2004 with exports falling by 2.8 per cent. This is in line with the trend in recent years, with the value of exports falling by 12.7 per cent between 1999 and 2004.

The foreign-owned sector accounted for 87.6 per cent of Irish exports in 2004 with the indigenously owned sector accounting for the remainder. The indigenously owned sector is much less export orientated, exporting less than 40 per cent of its output.

Much of the increased output from the indigenous sector over the last decade has been destined for the growing domestic market rather than export markets. However, in terms of their direct expenditure in the Irish economy, the contribution of indigenous exporters is similar to that of foreign-owned exporters. Foreign firms spent €17.8 billion on payroll and Irish goods and services in 2004, while Enterprise Ireland supported indigenous firms spent €16.2 billion.

[Gladstone]

Im just waiting for some union official to call for government "aid" so the plant can stay open.

[MichaelHennigan]

The Irish plant is to close and the operations are to be transferred to Malaysia.

[Gladstone]

Still old economy manufcturing jobs, we have to compete with services now.

[sean1]

David McWilliams: Spatial plan a load of nonsense

<MOD>Edited to remove giant URL - ryano</MOD>

[Dubliner]

Im just waiting for some union official to call for government "aid" so the plant can stay open.

Or the local FF TD to call for a government department to be relocated there.

[Deep Throat]

the local cllr/T.D. will call for a "task force" to be set up so that "meath gets priority" when it comes to a replacement industry

[Gladstone]

Im just waiting for some union official to call for government "aid" so the plant can stay open.

Or the local FF TD to call for a government department to be relocated there.

[MichaelHennigan]

the local cllr/T.D. will call for a "task force" to be set up so that "meath gets priority" when it comes to a replacement industry

Press release from Martin:

Minister Martin responds to job losses at NEC, Balivor
February 21st 2006


Micheál Martin TD Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment this evening expressed his deep disappointment at the announcement by NEC, Ballivor that they are to close their operations.

Minister Martin said “This news comes as a huge blow to the NEC workers. I am very conscious of the effect that these job losses will have on the workers involved and their families, as well as the community in the surrounding area. I wish to assure all concerned that the State agencies will provide every support they can. The priority will be to find alternative employment for those involved”.

The Minister continued “This evening I have arranged that FAS will carry out an immediate assessment of the skills of the workforce and to arrange whatever retraining may be necessary to help those involved find alternative employment".