A broadly representative group of Tipperary county and civic officials met the management of Seagate Technology in Clonmel yesterday for urgent talks on the decision to close the plant in mid-February with the loss of 1,400 jobs.
It is understood Seagate indicated the decision to wind up the plant, which assembles computer disk drives, is irreversible but that there might be some degree of flexibility on the closure date.
Meanwhile, the Clonmel Task Force announced by the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, to seek ways of alleviating the social and economic damage caused by the closure is to hold its first meeting this weekend. It is expected to include a representative of the Seagate workforce.
In another development, the IDA has asked Seagate management for a meeting within a week to discuss terms for the release of the 55-acre site and 150,000 sq ft factory for prospective buyers. The IDA has begun intensive efforts to find an alternative industrial investor, or investors, for the modern plant and a number of prospective clients are expected to visit the site in coming weeks.
The delegation which met Seagate yesterday included the Tipperary SR county manager, Mr Ned Gleeson, who is to head the task force. He was accompanied by the mayor and the town clerk of Clonmel, the county development officer, the chairmen of the county council and of Clonmel UDC, and the president of Clonmel Chamber of Commerce.
Carrick-on-Suir, Clonmel's neighbouring town, which will also be hit by the closure, was represented by its UDC chairman, Mr David Shee.
Leading the Seagate management team were Mr Peter Knight, director, Mr Michael Grealy, European human resources director, and Mr Ian O'Leary, corporate communications manager.
After the meeting, the mayor of Clonmel, Mr Tommy Norris, said he felt they had had "a relatively positive discussion". Seagate had assured them that the mid-February closure date was "not written in stone".
"We have an absolute guarantee that a maintenance contingent will remain on to make sure we have a good, well-maintained plant to hand on to a new operator," Mr Norris said.
Seagate is to set up an advisory facility to discuss with workers their various entitlements in regard to social welfare, health, life assurance and other schemes.
It is understood that Seagate has agreed to hold a series of meetings with local community representatives and officials on the impact of the closure. A further meeting is to take place next week.
Mr Norris said an important assurance had been received from representatives of the workforce that the employees would continue working "in a professional and mature way", and that there would be no diminution of productivity before the closure.
Officials of SIPTU, including the president, Mr Jimmy Somers, and the regional secretary, Mr John McDonnell, travelled to Clonmel last night and had a preliminary meeting with representatives of the Seagate workforce. Workers at the plant said the trade union organisation had been discouraged by the management, but an ad-hoc representative committee has been formed since the closure announcement. The Bishop of Waterford and Lismore, Dr William Lee, has asked that special reference be made at Masses this weekend for the employees affected by the closure.