Republican News · Thursday 16 May 2002

Adams calls on ministers to intervene at bottle plant

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams met with trade union representatives and workers at the Ardagh glass bottle plant in Ringsend on Monday. He was accompanied on the visit by Sinn Féin candidate for the area, Daithí Doolan. Following the meeting, Adams called on the Minister for the Environment, Noel Dempsey and Tánaiste Mary Harney to intervene directly to secure the future of the company and the jobs.

"The Ardagh plant is the only glass recycling facility in this state," he said. "If it is allowed to close it will be a disaster on two fronts. 400 workers will lose their jobs and the waste management crisis will be deepened. The State must move in immediately.

"I would support calls previously made by the Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin for the State to take over the Ardagh plant in partnership with Dublin City Council and SIPTU.

"Given the essential role this plant plays in our waste management infrastructure, the government is duty bound to intervene now. Local authorities have invested in new collection facilities for glass bottles througout the country but if Ardagh closes their main recycling outlet for this material will be gone. This must not be allowed to happen."