SIPTU has called on the Government to move quickly to establish a taskforce to produce strategies to protect production and thousands of jobs in the medical devices manufacturing sector which is to be subject to tariffs announced by the US Administration.
Companies like Hollister in Ballina and Medtronic in Galway are just two such facilities in this region.
SIPTU Manufacturing Divisional Organiser, Neill McGowan, said: “The medical devices manufacturing sector is a significant employer throughout Ireland but in particular many of its major facilities are located along the Atlantic coast where they are crucial to the local economy.
SIPTU is asking the government to consider wage subsidy programmes similar to those introduced during the Covid pandemic for companies that experience a considerable fall in turnover due to a reliance on the US market.”
Neill has been speaking to Midwest News Editor Teresa O’Malley…
