Employment - Thurles Information

Inflation Remains Low, But Business Costs Rise

Mark Fielding CEO. ISME.

Thurles, Co. Tipperary born Mr Mark Fielding, Chief Executive of the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association (ISME) has warned that while inflation remains low, business costs are steadily rising.

“Increasing costs are one of the most pressing issues facing SMEs at present. It is difficult for small businesses to grow and hire new staff, when their cost base is continuously rising and their margins reduce,” said Mr Fielding.

ISME warn of rising business costs despite new figures showing low inflation levels. Consumer prices increased by just 0.1 per cent over the year to December, according to latest figures published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

Transport-related costs fell by 4.3% over the year,due to a decline in the prices paid for petrol, diesel and air fares.

Motor Insurance premiums increased by 31% in the year to December, due to insurers continued to hike prices.

Clothing and Footwear costs were down 4.1%, due mainly to heavy discounting by retailers, while household-related items, e.g. furnishings fell by some 1.5%.

Alcoholic Beverages sold in Supermarkets and Off-Licences were lower in the period.

Education, Miscellaneous Goods and Services demonstrated the largest yearly price increases, with same up 3.8% and 2.6% respectively.

Fuel related prices and Communications costs rose by 2.1% and by 1.7% respectively over this same time frame.

Mark Fielding: As well as being Chief Executive of (ISME) Mr Mark Fielding is a member of the Company Law Review Group, the High Level Group on Business Regulation and the Advisory Group on Small Business. He also sits on the administrative council of UEAPME, the European employers’ organisation, latter a recognised European Social Partner representing more than 12 million enterprises, while employing 55 million people across Europe.

Lowry Demands Clarity On C&C Job Loss Concerns

Following demands by Independent T.D. Deputy Michael Lowry, 140 workers employed at the C&C plant will meet with their management this afternoon to be briefed on future employment at the plant.

Earlier today an angry Mr Lowry demanded clarity from the C&C Company on leaked newspaper reports that the plant was earmarked for closure with the loss the majority of its workforce.

The Deputy, in addressing the media, described the present situation as utterly shocking and totally disrespectful to the Borrisoleigh work force.

“Since the acquisition of the Tipperary Water manufacturer, Drinks Supplier and Distributor Gleeson Group, for a reported €12.4million by C&C in November 2012, I have been sceptical and suspicious of their motivations. From the onset there has been great difficulty with C&C in outlining any future business plan for the Borrisoleigh plant. C&C have been reluctant to hold any meaningful engagement with employees and to communicate their future intentions for the Borrisoleigh site. After much aggravation they eventually agreed to recognise the Union SIPTU, but even then the plans for the future of the company remained sparse”, commented Lowry.

Since 2012 the plant in Borrisoleigh was gradually diluted, through the reduction of manufacturing jobs by voluntary redundancies and by the diversion of sales and administration to Belfast in Northern Ireland. The centralizing of management to their UK office saw the centralisation of their logistics office with this function outsourced to the private sector and the long practice of retaining local management of the plant, discontinued. News broke via the public media this morning that 140 staff are to be made redundant at the former Gleeson’s, now C&C owned plant, as part of future cost-cutting plans.

Deputy Lowry stated this morning; “Effectively what we are witnessing here is ‘closure by stealth’ and the failure of a company to properly communicate with staff. The Company have been totally disingenuous with regard to their real intentions regarding the Borrisoleigh site. Their method of doing business, their conduct and overall behaviour is nothing short of despicable.

The profitable Gleeson plant is synonymous with the village of Borrisoleigh and its local residents for generations have been the very heartbeat of this local economy. This action by C&C will have a devastating impact on the workers and their dependent families in the entire community.

It is ironic that the company has been working 3 shifts in the immediate presence to meet demand and that the plant has made substantial profits during its 2015 operations. The company C+C are a publically listed company, driven by shareholder demands. The human costs of this heartless decision was not used as the deciding factor; rather the decision was made on the principle, ‘Nothing must be allowed to get in the way of maximum profit’.

I wish to convey my complete support for all the employees affected by this sudden announcement and respectfully request that C&C now enter into meaningful negotiations with their staff, their management and Union representatives; in an effort to resolve this serious matters” concluded Michael Lowry T.D.

This news follows the loss of some 380 jobs lost last December with the closure of the Lisheen Mine, situated just 15mls (24.3 km) to the north of Borrisoleigh.

Tipperary Employment Figures For October 2015

According to CSO unemployment figures published yesterday 29 extra people joined the Live Register in Roscrea over the past 31 days. Elsewhere in the county 250 people left the Live register obviously having either emigrated, died or entering Tús or JobBridge schemes; but very few be assured entering into actual paid employment here in Co. Tipperary.

See 10 month CSO Live Register figures for Co. Tipperary shown hereunder.

North Tipperary and Associated Towns – 2015

—Jan — Feb —- Mar — April — May— –June — July—- Aug — Sept – –Oct—Town/Region Jobs Created During October 2015
6,312 – 6,237 – 6,139 – 6,030 – 6,199 – 6,462 – 6,601 – 6,475 – 5,843 5,798—      North Tipperary         Down 45
2,568 –2,497 – 2,465 – 2,446 – 2,529 – 2,635 – 2,658 – 2,589 – 2,371 —–2,341———       Nenagh              Down 30
1,166 –1,168 – 1,138 – 1,119 ––1,164 –1,187 —1,246 – 1,213 – 1,059 — 1,098——          Roscrea              Up 39
2,578 –2,572 – 2,536 – 2,465 – 2,506 – 2,640 – 2,697 – 2,673 – 2,413 — 2,359———-      Thurles               Down 54

South Tipperary and Associated Towns – 2015

—Jan — Feb —- Mar — April — May— June — July—- Aug — Sept       Oct—Town/Region Jobs Created During September 2015
7,864 –7,786 – 7,681 – 7,595 – 7,809 – 7,998 – 8,110 – 7,957 – 7,297 —-7,092——-    South Tipperary        Down 205
1,129 –1,120 – 1,096 – 1,071 – 1,094 – 1,145 – 1,164 – 1,128 —1,038 —-1,006————       Cahir                 Down 32
1,685 –1,674 – 1,650 – 1,625 – 1,663 –-1,697 – 1,719 – 1,688 – 1,560 — 1,557——        Carrick-On-Suir       Down 3
1,060 –1,035 – 1,015 – —998 – 1,017 – 1,025 – 1,063 – 1,035 —   931—-    911——-           Cashel                Down 20
2,480 –2,489 – 2,464 – 2,470 – 2,562 –-2,611 – 2,616 – 2,586 – 2,356 — 2,243————     Clonmel               Down 113
1,510 – 1,468 –1,456 – 1,431 – 1,473 – 1,520 – 1,548 – 1,520 – 1,412 — 1,375——-     Tipperary (Town)      Down 37

Earlier this week Tipperary TD Michael Lowry demanded that the ‘prevailing veil of secrecy’, on issues regarding the imminent closure of Lisheen Mine, must now be discussed openly. To date it would appear his warning on this serious issue has received no support from current government elected representatives and he remains, to quote the Prophet Isaiah, the sole “voice crying in the wilderness”, with regard to his demands that State Agencies come forward to play a real meaningful role in directing alternative industry to this well appointed and ready equipped 1200 acre mine site.

The silence locally, on radio, TV and in the press is deafening.
From as yet unconfirmed information made available to Thurles.Info, we glean that at least 160 current full time employees of Lisheen Mine are expected to loose their jobs prior to Christmas 2015.

Tipperary – Rural Ireland In Crisis

Tipperary Independent TD Deputy Michael Lowry has this week criticised the long delayed Government initiative on a stimulus package to regenerate Rural Ireland.

“Labour Minister Ann Phelan has been Minister with specific responsibility for Rural Development for almost 5 years. We hardly knew she existed, but hey presto a couple of months before an election she comes out of her slumber with a whopper of an empty promise”, stated the Deputy.

“Since this Government was elected, all we have heard is aspirational statements and hot air. This most recent announcement is a paltry €30m pre-election gimmick.

Minister Ann Phelan has the audacity to allocate €4m of this same fund to her own constituency of Carlow/Kilkenny; leaving just €26m for the rest of the country. The kind of schemes covered under the new proposal, such as renovation of old buildings and improving local amenities are already covered under the terms of Leader Group and National Lottery Funding. The real issue faced our rural communities is that funding available to Leader in Tipperary has been cut by €15 m. It’s ironic that the person who presided over that €15m cut is one and same Minister Allen Kelly,” Mr Lowry continued.

“The root cause of the crisis in rural Ireland is the lack of job opportunity for young people. Thousands of our young people have had to emigrate, forced to leave home, leave their families, friends and community. Parents are denied the privilege of being close to their loved ones, denied the gift of seeing them mature into adulthood. There are many issues as a consequence of this emigration. Fewer houses being built, no work for builders and tradesmen, fewer children being born, schools losing numbers; putting teachers jobs at risk, with small rural schools facing closure. We then have small shops, post offices and Garda Stations being shut down. We also face the prospect, due to a shortage of priests; of parish clustering with major implications for our rural churches and hence reduced social contact”, stated Mr Lowry.

“Emigration has had a massive impact on local communities and in particular sports clubs. Many GAA soccer and Rugby teams have been decimated by the flight of its younger members. The government and the national agencies have done nothing to correct the imbalance between city and rural regeneration. Access to a proper broadband service and information technology is a huge disadvantage. It is impossible for country towns to attract industry as it has little prospect of competing against the city locations that have the entire necessary infrastructure already in place. The IDA should immediately construct advance factories in places like Tipperary. It is inevitable that when a Company decides to set up business it will make a decision on the location based on a ready to go turnkey facility”, continued Mr Lowry.

Deputy Lowry also stated, “We now have a two speed economy – one for Dublin and one for the rest, operating in a fast and slow lane. The closure of Garda Stations has left older people in particular, feeling vulnerable at a time when city crime gangs are roaming rural communities causing fear and anxiety. This feeling of isolation is made worse by no local transport, which makes it impossible for people to socialise”.

Thurles – Pothole Study Under Way By NRA Officials

Local County Councillors have discovered in recent days that a large pothole has emerged on Barry’s Bridge in Thurles, Co. Tipperary. In fact same has been there since Xmas last but somehow went unnoticed until last Tuesday’s monthly Co. Council meeting.

Mick was the first to arrive at 8.30am this morning, whistling “Sliabh na mBan,” (Irish Translation – ‘Mountain of the women’) as he free-wheeled down Liberty Square, Thurles, on his rusty ‘High Nelly’ bicycle; to come to a staggered halt on Barry’s bridge.

“Bejasus you are out and about early Mick,” said I.

Pothole found on Thurles bridge. NRA to investigate.

“Yea,” Mick replied, “I was told to get my arse down here pronto; some emergency regarding the surface on this bridge,” he continued, as he untied his shovel from the crossbar.

“Are we in danger Mick,” said I smiling. “Wouldn’t think so”, said Mick, “but some feckin County Councillor leaked information to the local radio station this morning, from yesterdays County Council meeting; now it appears panic is spreading locally. Don’t forget it’s an election year and according to the NRA (National Roads Authority) Minister Alan Kelly could be recalled from his debate on ‘Climate Change,’ taking place today in Rome, in the presence of His Holiness Pope Francis.”

“Begob that sounds serious Mick,” said I, quickly tripping lightly to firmer ground on the Kobii Cafe side.

Having secured the bike, Mick, shovel in hand, joined me.

“You know this feckin bridge has always been a problem,” confided Mick. “It would be back in the 80’s shortly after the mother died; I was home from England for the funeral. I was on the way back when I discovered she had willed me the cottage instead of me sister, so I remained here and joined the dole. I had worked spreading tarmac for McAlpine, across the water and he had gotten a few jobs over here, so he approached meself, Paddy Ryan and Johnny Connors; (God be good to both of them) to work on this same bloody bridge.”

“All of us were claiming Social Welfare at the time but working quietly on the side. McAlpine’s foreman, Mousey Flynn, gave us our instructions and told us to remember, if any Inspector from the Social Welfare office came sniffing around, to give him a false name,” continued Mick.

“Sure,” Mick continued, “Johnny said, yes Mousey, but what if he catches us unaware like and we can’t think of a name fast enough?” Mousey replied “Look, are ye feckin stupid or what, in a case of difficulty just look around and use one of the names written on the shop fronts in Liberty Square.” (Before he headed off himself to find a snug corner in the Arch Bar.)

“I can see straight away why Mousey was chosen as your foreman,” says I.

“No listen you ejit!” says a frowning Mick. “About an hour passes and as sure as God, lo and behold, a Social Welfare fraud officer turns up. “Right now ye three” says he approaching us, “Ye’re under suspicion of working whilst claiming the dole; give me your names,” he yelled. “Well” said Mick, “I looked around and seeing Hayes’ Hotel said, ‘Mick Hayes’ sir.

Paddy Ryan looked briefly around and spotting Dempsey’s Ladies Drapery (I believe, Paddy spent a lot of his life viewing Dempsey’s Ladies drapery, if you understand my meaning.) and lowering his gaze yells ‘Paddy Dempsey’ sir.

According to Mick, the inspector then turned to Johnny Connors yelling “And you, what’s your name?” to which Johnny replied “Buck” sir, I’m an American”. The Inspector glared at Johnny before demanding “And your second name Buck ?” Johnny replied back “Buck Worm, sir”

“Listen,” said Mick ” I’ll let you go; I’m off to break open me flask of hot Bovril, before the feckin NRA officials land in on top of me and Alan Kelly and Noel Coonan start announcing one new job in Thurles. If I had me way I’d just fill that feckin hole up with 2 small shovels of cold tarmac and be finished with it “