Cllrs demand that no effort be spared in saving Tara Mines from looming closure

A CALL to Government ministers to do all in their power and work tirelessly to ensure that all Tara Mines workers are adequately supported and that the Boliden company is enabled to resume business in an appropriate and timely manner was made by Meath county councillors at the monthly council meeting this week.

A notice of motion to this effect was tabled by Fine Gael members on the council and passed unanimously.

Presenting the motion Cllr Sarah Reilly said that like everyone else she was shocked when she heard the news that the mine was to pause operations. The human impact behind the announcement was the really important aspect – everyone knew somebody in the mine who had been laid off, be it a friend, a cousin or a neighbour. Behind each person was a mortgage to be paid, a car loan to be paid, credit card bills to be paid along with medical bills. While that was the direct impact there was also the indirect impact.

She was glad to hear from the chief executive of the council Fiona Lawless that the council was doing its utmost to assist in the situation. Contact had been made with Ministers who had direct responsibility in the situation. Minister Heather Humphreys had told her that a dedicated team from the Department of Social Protection had been put in place to work with the company and employees to make sure that a package of income support was put in place. DSP officials had been placed on site to meet employees so that queries could be answered and income support offered. Over 450 employees had been assisted in this way.

This week an employment services team would also be on site. Employees would be encouraged to engage in short training courses in collaboration with Louth Meath Education and Training Board, the councillor said. It was the employees they cared about and worried about, she added.

Cllr Paddy Meade said the last few weeks had been very tough for the county. The layoffs were a very significant factor, representing 2-3 per cent of the county’s workforce. It would have a dreadful effect on Meath if it did not reopen. The council and the government would have to work together to do everything in their power to try to resolve the situation because of the looming impact the layoffs would have.

Independent Cllr Brian Fitzgerald said that while he supported the motion, he felt very angry about the whole thing. He said that 20 years ago when there was an attempt to close Tara Mines the council had played a “huge role” in trying to bring both sides together and this had been done successfully. However, at that time the management of Tara Mines had been totally committed to reaching agreement because they had an affinity to the county. He was sad to say that was not the current situation. Twenty years ago everyone knew that if a mine closed, it might never reopen. Huge cost savings had to be made because the price of ore had gone way down in that period. He was very disappointed that an agreement could not be reached in the present situation.

“The company has done well in this county and should be encouraged, by whatever means the Government has, to make them sit down and reach an agreement with the workforce and give a clear commitment that this mine will stay open and to tell us now exactly when it is intended to reopen it”, he said.

Sinn Fein Cllr Michael Gallagher said he himself was in the same situation as the Tara Mines workers many years ago and he fully understood what they were going through.

Independent Cllr Gillian Toole suggested that contact be made with Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association which has an impact on economic life through jobs and investment. Many of the workers in Tara Mines would have fitting and turning skills which would be a particular attraction in the pharmaceutical industry.

Fianna Fail Cllr Wayne Harding said that Tara Mines was a generational employer in the county. His father and late brother had worked in the mine. A previous threat to mothball the mine had caused huge worry in his family so he knew that this was also the case with every family affected by the present situation. "People’s lives had been sent into turmoil through no fault of their own", he said.

Independent Cllr Nick Killian said that not only were direct employees affected but also up to 3,000 people who serviced the industry. He suggested that a delegation be sent to Sweden to negotiate with the company. Independent Cllr Alan Lawes said that because the layoffs would have a devastating effect he hoped that some resolution could be found.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Tommy Reilly said that there was a rich and lucrative seam of ore at the mine. It would be the workers who would take it out some day. He described Boliden’s decision to pause operations as “scandalous”.