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| Councillor Davy Walsh |
The Workers’ Party have called on the government to invest €39 million as a share in Waterford Crystal rather
than giving the beleaguered company a state guaranteed loan to ensure the survival of the crystal plant. The party believes
that a government shareholding would be the best option for keeping a large-scale glass manufacture facility in Waterford
in the long term.
The issue is to be raised tonight (Friday) as the subject of an emergency motion at the Workers’ Party Árd Fheis in
Dublin’s Liberty Hall.
Waterford Workers Party Councillor Davy Walsh said that it was essential that the plant be kept in Waterford and that it would
not simply become a sales outlet using the valuable name “Waterford” but it should maintain manufacturing jobs
in the city.
“Waterford Wedgwood has asked the government to guarantee a €39 million bank loan to help keep the plant open
but the Irish taxpayers and the workers at Waterford Crystal need a guarantee too. A guarantee that the plant will remain
in Waterford long-term and the state needs a guarantee on its investment”, said Cllr. Walsh.
“Waterford Glass has had many serious job cuts in recent years and much of its glass production is now outsourced abroad
to be finished in Waterford. The latest revelation of three weeks of plant closure should set alarm bells going in Waterford
and nationally. Everything possible should be done to keep the plant going but there must also be guarantees to the workers
and to the Irish people and there must be full consultation and involvement by government and workers in securing the future
of the plant”
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