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16th February 2016 • Volume 23, Issue 05 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. EirCode: K67 P5W4. • Tel: 01 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie • www.northcountyleader.ie
Potential Job Losses Rock Swords Pictured at County Hall, Swords at the launch of Fingal Enterprise Week, which takes place from 7th - 14th March, are finalists Kevin Egan (Water2Buy Ltd), Nicole Dunne (Howth Cuisine), Paul Reid (Chief Executive of Fingal County Council), Chris Monks (InvizBox Ltd), Bobby Kerr of Dragons Den fame and Insomnia Coffee Shops, Darren Farrell, (Aldar Tissues Ltd), Oisin Geoghegan (Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office),Cllr. Tony Murphy (acting County Mayor), Dr. Irene McGrath (Kerona Consulting Ltd) and Taymor Bazleh (Crusts). See story on page 3
An estimated 100 jobs are under threat in the Swords based car rental company Hertz, according to media sources. The potential job losses come as the company is considering using an outsourcing plan as part of a global restructuring move. Hertz has confirmed that they are entering into a consultation process with affected workers in its Dublin finance unit.
Aoife Read At a time when economic growth and local job creation is upwardly mobile, this news comes completely out of the blue. The hope for many local people is that this is not indicative of a further downturn for local commerce, and is merely a blip on the radar of the local economy’s current upswing. A representative from Hertz has said that; “Certain finance administration functions currently located in Swords are under review and may potentially be out sourced.” They went on to say that; “Dublin is a strategically important facility in Hertz global operations and the
contribution of out staff employed in Swords are highly valued.” The County Leader contacted Zoe White, Senior Director for Global International Communications for Hertz, who said that as yet they do not know exactly how many jobs will be affected by the proposed out sourcing, and that she had no further comment to make on the matter. Dail candidate for the local area, Joe O’Brien (GP) told the County Leader; “It would be devastating news for Swords and for the workers and the families of the workers. It’s very much counter to what we’re hearing from Government parties at the moment Joe O’Brien about economic recovery and more jobs and better jobs. So this is a piece of reality running counter to all the empty election promises that we are currently hearing. I would also say that it underlines the fact that this Government has also not addressed the economic vulnerabilities that were there five years ago, namely our dependence on multi nationals and the lack of supports for indigenous business.” He went on to say; “Government support is very high in terms of multinational corporations. It needs to be reoriented towards local businesses and supporting them, and getting credit flowing again
for local business, so that we can create local jobs that are more sustainable and stronger and less vulnerable to being pulled.” Continued on page 4
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