A maker of wireless security products in Cork is to lay off 120 workers with plans to close in June next year, it emerged today.
Harris Corporation, which is based in Ballytrasna in Little Island in Cork, is to close because its parent company in the US wants to eliminate duplication in the company.
A redundancy package has been agreed upon and an outplacement programme to find alternative employment for the workforce has begun.
Kathleen Lynch, Labour Party TD for Cork North Central, said the news was disappointing for the workers and their families but also for Ireland’s industrial hopes.
“While the plant will remain open until the middle of next year, news like this is the last thing that any worker wants to hear and my thoughts first and foremost are with those families who are to be impacted by this.”
Lynch has argued that Tanaiste Mary Coughlan should respond to our increasing unemployment problem by setting up an expert group within her department (enterprise, trade and employment), which would identify and assist in addressing problems in companies before they reach a crisis point.
“There is little point in spending huge sums of money attracting new industries to Ireland if we find it so difficult to hang onto those that have been here for many years.
“It is imperative that various state agencies pull out all the stops to make sure that everything possible is retrieved from this situation. There is an urgent need now, for the Government to mobilise the resources that are already at its disposal to assist people in training and up-skilling in Cork.
“The Government must pull together a co-ordinated response, through FAS, the education sector and other agencies to start responding to this need,” Lynch said.
By John Kennedy
Photo: Harris Corporation, based in Ballytrasna in Little Island in Cork, is to close because its parent company in the US wants to eliminate duplication in the company.
