Tag Archives: Roche

AT 74-years of age Ennis man Martin Knox admits he left it rather late to start publishing poetry, but the trained chemist is certainly making up for lost time. After a fruitful working life, which took in stints at Syntex, later Roche; as well as teaching at some of the country’s most prestigious educational institutions, Martin made the leap into poetry and has just published his first book. Entitled, Words Without Song: Vignettes of Reflective Dissent and Childhood Reflections, the volume is a collection of over 100 poems which “go against the establishment” and give voice to Martin’s long-standing belief that the purpose of literature is to highlight uncomfortable truths. “Racism, poverty, mental health, corruption, environmental damage, the unequal distribution of wealth, suffering, those are some the main themes of my poems,” he said. “Writers should ask serious questions. For a long time, I didn’t have the time to write. When I retired, I found that time. So many questionable …

CLARE Independent TD, Dr Michael Harty, has described the search for a possible replacement for Roche in Clarecastle as a “lost cause.” He made his claims based on comments passed by Business Minister, Heather Humphreys in Dáil Éireann. “It now seems certain that finding a replacement for Roche, the former jewel in the crown of Clare industry, is a lost cause. That is the only reasonable conclusion one can draw from the statement by Minister Humphreys who told me in answer to a Dáil question, that despite all the efforts by the IDA since the announcement was made to close in 2015, no offer has been made for the site,” Deputy Harty said. “The company has already written to the local community detailing the wind down of its operations by mid-2020. Put the two together and it can only mean that it is curtains for Roche in Clarecastle. I welcome the jobs that have been announced recently but we still …

Clare’s new Junior Minister, Pat Breen has pledged to meet senior management in Roche’s headquarters in Basel, if necessary, as part of efforts to secure an alternative buyer or employment to avert the phased closure of the Clarecastle plant. Deputy Breen, who is one of the 15 new Junior Ministers announced by Taoiseach Enda Kenny, pledged to exert some political pressure to try and get Roche to sell its Clarecastle plant on a stand-alone basis rather than pursing the sale of its plants in Clare, South Carolina, USA and Florence, Italy. The Ballynacally man is the first Clare deputy to serve as junior minister in over six years since former Clare Fianna Fáil Deputy, Tony Killeen ended his stint as Minister for State for Fisheries and Forestry following his elevation to become Defence Minister in the cabinet in March 23, 2010. Mr Killeen was first appointed Minister of State in May 7, 2008 and survived a later reshuffle when former …

More than 240 Roche employees have been left reeling following the shock closure of its small molecules manufacturing site in Clarecastle. Roche, which is one of the biggest employers in Clare, today informed employees at its over of its intention to exit the site. The closure has been described as a “black day for Clarecastle and Clare” by Clare Fine Gael Deputy Joe Carey in view of the hundreds of jobs that are directly and indirectly linked to the factory. According to Deputy Carey, Roche has a three-year timeframe for the closure of the plant. “Today is a very difficult day for everyone on site. Clarecastle has been a significant and successful manufacturing site since 1974 and the proposal for Roche to exit the site is in no way a reflection on the performance of the people or the site,” according to Gerry Cahill, Managing Director, Roche Ireland Limited. “We will do our utmost to support our colleagues during this transition.” …

RECENT investments in the manufacture of new healthcare products at the Roche ( Ireland Ltd ) plant in Clarecastle, will support its parent company in retaining its position among the world’s top ten pharmaceutical companies. Ennis man, Gerry Cahill, who is managing director of the Clarecastle operation, said since the beginning of the year, they have been manufacturing Madapor, which is used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and later on this year will commence making the newer drug Zelboraf, aimed at treating people with advanced melamoma skin cancer. The latest developments have been welcomed by the 245 Roche employees in Clarecastle, in addition to the significant number of contractors, who have been taken on to support the new products. Mr Cahill told The Clare Champion that one of the reasons Roche was selected by its parent company for the manufacture of Madapor and Zelboraf was because of the reputation which the Clarecastle site enjoys, as being a very reliable …