As many as 126 jobs are to be lost at the Ranbaxy pharmaceutical plant in Cashel after staff were informed that the facility is to close.
After taking over Ranbaxy’s international operations in the first half of last year, Sun Pharma has, unsuccessfully, been trying to sell the plant.
The company has also been reorganising global operations, with certain operations being moved to countries with cheaper operating costs.
The news is going to come as a big blow to Cashel, with manufacturing to cease by the end of April and the jobs are to go by mid-May.
A consultation period will now begin to discuss severance payments and redundancy.
Speaking from Cashel this morning, Deputy Michael Lowry said that the potential sale of the facility was impeded by the severance and redundancy pay liabilities that went with it.
Mattie McGrath meanwhile, has said that he has brought the matter to the attention of the Acting Jobs Minister Richard Bruton.
The County Tipperary Chamber of Commerce responded by saying that they are working with management and with the Tipperary Skillnet network to ensure those to be laid off will have the best possible chance of securing other employment.
The chamber also said that it hopes the nearby Amneal facility which was purchased by Johnson and Johnson last year will take on some of those who are losing their jobs.
