Coveney Must meet Tara Mines Management Immediately To Discuss Threat to Jobs – Tóibín
Aontú Leader and Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín has called for Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney management to meet with Tara Mines management immediately to prevent the threatened closure of Tara Mines. An Teachta Tóibín stated;
“Tara Mines is one of the largest employers in Meath. There are 660 people employed directly and hundreds more indirectly. There are also, I understand, 120 indirect contractors working in the Mines. It is the backbone of the Navan economy especially. Closure of Tara Mines would be devastating”.
“The government has a responsibility to treat all business equally. The government are providing €100 million in assistance to chip manufacturers, it does not make sense that other key employers would be left out”.
“I understand that the second biggest cost in Tara Mines is now electricity. The massive question facing all of us is why is the government, standing idly by when electricity remain so expensive in Ireland. There is deep frustration among domestic and commercial customers due to extortionate electricity prices despite collapsing wholesale prices. All of this is happening when ESB profits more than doubled. Last October the government stated that they would put in place a windfall tax if energy companies continued to profiteer. As with many government promises it remains unrealised”.
“Simon Coveney must inject some urgency into is actions. Coveney must meet with management immediately to safe guard these jobs. Minister Eamon Ryan has been asked to visit Tara Mines before but to date he has refused to do so. Green party ideology cannot come before the bread and butter needs of thousands of Meath families. I am also calling on Boliden to commit to Tara Mines. I understand that millions of tonnes of ore are taken from the mine per annum and the mine is profitable. Boliden should commit to the county for the long term”.
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