JOBS START-UP NOW IN APC'S COURT - KENNY
23 October 1996
By TOM GILLESPIE
THERE ARE no obstacles preventing American Power Conversion Corporation starting up in Castlebar with the provision of 200 jobs, Tourism and Trade Minister Enda Kenny has stated.He was responding to press reports which suggested that the location of APC in Castlebar was dependent on the plants in Gillogue, (Co. Clare) and Drogheda actually going ahead.
Minister Kenny said: "I can confirm that the ball is in APC's court in respect of the Castlebar dimension.
"It is perfectly in order for APC to sign on the line and start in Castlebar now. There is no restriction on that at all.
"It has nothing to do with Gillogue or Drogheda. They are perfectly entitled to start in Castlebar. I hope they take up the option given to them very quickly.
"From speaking to the president of APC I have no reason to doubt but that they will."
Outlining the history of the APC announcement Minister Kenny said last Year APC came before the IDA with proposals for an expansion of their business in Ireland.
This proposal was analysed and vetted by the IDA, came before Government and was endorsed by Government. Subsequently APC announced that they intended to start business in the Spring of 1996, again in July and later in September.
The Minister continued: " Now there were difficulties from the APC side in relation to one of the sites in Co. Clare.
"The IDA had a survey commissioned and on the basis of the evidence of this site concluded that there was not actually anything radically wrong.
"The situation is that the site proposed for expansion in Dundalk has since been disposed of. We stand now at a position where APC have no restriction upon them at all upon starting in Castlebar.
"The lights could be turned on there next week, machinery installed and personnel recruited. This is now a matter for APC."
Minister Kenny said when he was in Pittsburgh at the economic conference called by the White House in respect of investment in Northern Ireland and the boarder counties he took the opportunity of contacting Ed Mahalla, the president of APC and spoke to him on the telephone.
He added: "We had a very real and understanding discussion about APC. I am very anxious that APC would obviously fulfill the commitment endorsed by the IDA and endorsed by the Government and come to Castlebar. The red carpet is out there for them.
"It is fair to say that APC have one outstanding problem that I believe the IDA can deal with and I hope that is dealt with very quickly.
"But even within that there is no restriction at all upon them starting in Castlebar. I hope that they take up that option very quickly."
Minister Kenny said the Castlebar start-up was NOT dependent on all three facilities in Castlebar, Gillogue and Drogheda going ahead.
Minister Kenny added: "I had spoken to the Minister for Enterprise and Employment about this before I went to Pittsburgh.
"It is very clear that APC are in a position to start in Castlebar even within the endorsement given to them by the IDA and approval given by Government.
Minister Kenny said APC were a very big company. They were world class leaders in what they produced.
."They have an agenda set out for the future. They want particular expansion in Ireland in a particular line and we are anxious that they would be able top fulfill that.
"But in respect of the Castlebar plant they are fully entitled to go ahead right now."
He said he did not believe that APC were having second thoughts about Castlebar. He had spoken to the APC president and he had confirmed that they did not have a difficulty in respect of Castlebar.
"They have other plans and projections for Ireland and I think the IDA will be able to deal with
these very quickly", he concluded.
Connaught Telegraph - News - October 1996
Connaught Telegraph - Sport - October 1996
