We can forge a better future for ourselves

Op-ed on job announcement by Hollister by the Minster for Labour Affairs and Public Service Transformation, Dara Calleary TD

19 October 2010

Yesterday’s announcement by Hollister, the healthcare product manufacturer based in Ballina, that it is to create 450 jobs under an ambitious expansion plan is an enormous boost for Mayo and the western region.

The 75,000 sq/ft extension will create 250 high-quality manufacturing jobs and another 200 jobs in construction as part of the €65 million plan.

The extension, which is expected to be finished by the end of next year, will allow for increased manufacturing capability in the ostomy and continence care product ranges.

The investment builds on the outstanding performance by workers and management in Hollister for almost 35 years.

It reaffirms Hollister’s commitment to Ballina and demonstrates that Mayo has what it takes to attract, retain and grow major multinational players in the highly competitive global healthcare market.

As a local TD and a Minister of State in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, I have worked closely with IDA Ireland in securing the project for Ballina.

Hollister’s decision to invest in Mayo attests strongly to the calibre and expertise of our local labour force, the quality of our transport infrastructure and our proximity to higher education institutions.

The chairman and chief executive of Hollister, Alan F. Herbert, said today that his decision to invest in Ballina was made ‘after very thoughtful consideration’ - a strong endorsement of workers and management in the firm and all who worked hard to secure the project for Mayo.

Hollister contributes more than €52 million annually to the Irish economy including €40 million spent on salaries and materials sourced locally here in the west.

It is clear from yesterday’s announcement that Ireland’s economic recovery is possible and we remain an attractive location for advanced manufacturing.

Ireland hosts 15 of the world’s top 25 medical device firms and Hollister’s ambitious expansion plan demonstrates to the global investor community that our economic recovery is possible and we remain an attractive location for advanced manufacturing.

There is no doubt that these are difficult times for our county and our country.

Mayo has been hit by the global recession just as hard as any other county.

Many families are struggling with job losses, reduced incomes, mounting bills and shuttered businesses.

I meet them every day on the streets, on front porches and in my clinics.

But I know, too, that as a people we can recover just as we did before and with the right policies and brave decisions we can come through this difficult time and emerge stronger.

The creation of jobs is the Government’s main policy priority.

We are pursuing a ‘whole of enterprise’ strategy - the best route for Ireland to deliver the sustainable economic growth and jobs over the coming years.

That means we are putting record levels of investment into our enterprise agencies to meet ambitious job creation targets; we are fixing the banking system; we are stabilising the public finances; we are putting more investment in innovation to drive productivity and new product development; we are regaining our competitiveness; and we are getting credit flowing to small businesses.

All of these measures are aimed at creating a business environment conducive to economic recovery and the creation of jobs.

Here in Mayo, we have cause for confidence and the Government is targeting resources to get our people back to work.

The indigenous job creation agency, Enterprise Ireland, works with 132 client companies in Mayo employing more than 2,800 workers.

Last year, the Government pumped €4.5 million into Enterprise Ireland-backed firms in the county, helping to protect and create many hundreds of much-needed jobs for local workers.

Flagship home-grown firms in the county such as Dawn Meats, Western Brand Chickens, O’Hara’s Bakery and Connaught Mushrooms attest to the diverse enterprise base in Mayo.

IDA Ireland, the Government agency responsible for drawing foreign direct investments here, supports 18 firms in Mayo employing almost 3,000 full-time workers and another 500 part time.

The medical technologies and pharmaceutical sectors are the county’s largest sectors, representing 47pc and 34pc, respectively, of IDA Ireland-supported jobs in Mayo.

Key firms in these sectors include Baxter, Allergan, Coca Cola and, of course, Hollister.

The Government continues to grant-aid a number of enterprise centres across the county, including one in my own home town of Ballina, in supporting new business development and local entrepreneurship.

So far this year, Mayo County Enterprise Board has approved over €450,000 for 21 micro-enterprise projects aimed at creating 65 full-time jobs.

Mayo is well-served by the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology which now has more than 7,400 students.

Groups such as the Western Development Commission and Mayo County Enterprise Board are helping to attract new industry and investment to the county.

Knock Airport is among the fastest growing airports in Europe with some 600,000 passengers annually.

Last year, a €5.5 million terminal opened which can handle 1.5 million passengers.

Our rail links are well connected with daily commuter trains to Dublin serving Westport, Castlebar and Ballina and a major rail freight facility - one of the busiest in the country - serving north Mayo.

A broadband fibre-optic loop from Galway to Sligo runs through Mayo and the local authority has finished the broadband metropolitan ring in Ballina and Kiltimagh.

Construction work on the metropolitan area networks in Claremorris, Knock Airport and Ballinrobe have been completed and other towns such as Balla, Ballyhaunis and Foxford are part of group broadband schemes.

We know we have work to do and we will press on with the job.

We cannot afford to listen to those who tell us that recovery is an unrealisable dream.

In the last recession, Monsignor James Horan shone a torch on a darkened landscape in north Mayo with his infectious optimism and entrepreneurial spirit.

Today, as we open a new chapter for jobs in Mayo, we should recall Monsignor Horan’s ‘can do’ attitude and grasp the opportunity to forge a better future for ourselves.

ENDS

Bernard Mallee, Press Adviser to Minister Batt O'Keeffe, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, on Tel: +353 1 631 3944, Mobile: +353 87 9173022, Email: bernard.mallee@deti.ie