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File image of Becton Dickinson offices. Alamy Stock Photo

Up to 200 jobs at risk as medical tech plant to close in Drogheda

The Dáil heard today that the Becton Dickinson site is the only IDA-backed plant in Drogheda.

UP TO 200 jobs are at risk in Drogheda after medical tech firm Becton Dickinson (BD) are to close their operations at their site in the Co Louth town.

The Dáil heard today that the BD site is the only plant which is backed by Ireland’s Foreign Direct Investment Agency (IDA) in Drogheda and could uproot the lives of the highly-skilled workers in the town, forcing them to seek work in Dublin.

The site has been in Drogheda for 60 years and will wind down operations over the next two and a half years, planning to close its doors in 2026.

Labour Party TD Ged Nash today in the Dáil said that the decision by BD to close its manufacturing plant is a direct result of a lack of investment into Drogheda and the business itself. 

The Louth TD asked the Taoiseach Simon Harris to work with him to establish an expert-led enterprise task force to gain and retain foreign direct-investment jobs in Drogheda and other places in the county.

Workers’ union Siptu has also said that all stakeholders need to meet to discuss this closure, including the Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke, in order to discuss plans to save or attract quality jobs for Drogheda and the surrounding areas.

Siptu’s Manufacturing Divisional Organiser, Neil McGowan, said BD has provided “quality employment for decades in the county Louth area” and the announcement is a “devastating blow” to the workers and their families.

Harris said he was “very sorry” to learn of the potential job losses in Drogheda and promised to work with Nash through the closure of the plant.

He added that he is to meet with enterprise stakeholders in Drogheda about the future of the town very shortly.

A spokesperson for BD has said that the company recognise that the announcement will be “difficult news for employees working at the plant” but ensured that the decision to close the site was not a reflection of the standard of their work.

“As a responsible business, we have to ensure that all of our operations are efficient and that our resources are allocated in the most effective manner possible,” the spokesperson added.

Enterprise minister Peter Burke today acknowledged BD’s announcement and recognised it as “hugely disappointing news as the company has provided significant employment in Drogheda”.

“We will examine each option to minimise the impact on employees. The full range of state supports will be made available to the employees,” he added.

McGowan outlined that Siptu are not expected to accept “anything less than concentrated and swift Government intervention” to ensure an IDA-backed manufacturing company remains in Drogheda.

The BD spokesperson said that it is currently working with the IDA, and will continue to work with the agency, “with a shared goal to find a new owner for the site that can transition the facility to its own manufacturing needs”.

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23 Comments
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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sat Nav Maps
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 5:01 PM

    Ireland’s forgotten town

    117
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    Mute Ollie Fitzpatrick
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 5:36 PM

    Totally down trodden by Louth Co Co since the seat of power for the town / city was removed. Time to hand back control of the town to Drogheda!!

    79
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    Mute Alan McDonagh
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 6:36 PM

    @Ollie Fitzpatrick: Who removed the seat of power from Drogheda??

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    Mute Jack Boardman
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 6:58 PM

    @Ollie Fitzpatrick: when BD site opened I was excavator operator do all foundation there I been from rush Co Dublin alderman Moore kicked up that I should not be employed as I leaved out side and treating close the site if it continued but guess what never happened it’s sad to hearing news off closure Jackie

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    Mute Ger Whelan
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 8:04 PM

    @Jack Boardman: Wow have you ever heard of spelling and grammar?

    28
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    Mute Ger Whelan
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 8:31 PM

    @Jack Boardman: For listeners of Pj and Jim on radio nova, I think we might have found the bomber?. Jack’s comment is exactly how Pj describes the bombers text.

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    Mute Marie Agnew
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 9:20 PM

    @Ollie Fitzpatrick: Seat of power!! No town has more power than any other town, yes Drogheda has gone downhill, but god knows Dundalk has suffered it’s fair share of hardships over the decades being so close and in competition with the border. Dundalk thrives better now because Newry has been decimated and shoppers no longer travel cross border

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    Mute Ollie Fitzpatrick
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 10:07 PM

    @Alan McDonagh: Government!!

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    Mute Mary Conneely
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 11:23 PM

    @Ger Whelan: I am sure they have, however some people’s literacy skills may not be as good as yours. A little consideration please, he got his point across.

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    Mute Alan McDonagh
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 6:35 PM

    Get Nash sat at the Cabinet Table as Super Junior Minister and done Nothing for Drogheda, now he’s concerned and wants task force’s and everything else.
    The man who ABOLISHED Drogheda Borough Council is now worried about Drogheda, an absolute Joke !!

    59
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    Mute Ger Whelan
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 5:51 PM

    Ireland must not be as profitable for BD anymore. They sold off their factory in south county Dublin a couple of years ago.

    46
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    Mute Sean Finnegan
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 6:39 PM

    @Ger Whelan: Embecta is a spin off from BD

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    Mute Ger Whelan
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 8:08 PM

    @Sean Finnegan: Really. The usual reason for a spin off is because of A. Tax reasons or B. It was no longer profitable therefore no longer viable to keep it. Any idea what they do there?

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    Mute Big Haus
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 5:09 PM

    Wouldn’t happen in Dundalk, Joan’s jewel

    41
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    Mute Peter Byrne
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 6:59 PM

    This is the result of the increase in wages costs brought in by the present government and which will see plenty more similar jobs move to lower cost countries. . We are told we have full employment so I am sure the workers will have no problem finding alternative jobs.
    Very interesting article in today’s Independent which reports that most of the jobs created in 2024 were state jobs , which will lead to the countries ruin

    35
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    Mute William Kelly
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 9:43 PM

    @Peter Byrne: which leads to higher taxes to pay public service desk jockeys! We need more elec,tech & mech trainees to keep industrial jobs manned & attractive to investors.

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    Mute Joseph Tierney
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 6:47 PM

    This is business pure and simple.Were moving to a lower cost destination.Thank you Ireland for your grant aids over the years but we will make more money in a new destination.Goverment and economy issue now regarding jobs for the workers.

    37
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    Mute Tony Mc Cormack
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 6:59 PM

    Again poor Drogheda loses a steady long time quality employer. Good quality companies leave and have never been replaced. The town is divided in two by the toll bridges.Our TD’s don’t appear to have any clout to get the simplest thing done . Sincere sympathy to the workers if they expect any support from government ministers. As Michael Bell said when the shoe and leather workers union marched the streets of Dublin with a coffin in the1970s to signify our trade ” cheap imports are the death of our Jobs” they’re all forever gone.

    33
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    Mute Max Cooper
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 9:48 PM

    Cost of doing business in this Country is gone through the Roof.
    Pensions
    Sick pay
    Employers PRSI
    Additional bank holiday
    Insurance
    Energy cost
    Taxation
    Compliance with never ending regulations
    Fraudulent insurance claims
    Bent legal system
    It’s not worth the hassle
    More and more companies are making the same decisions, move or close.
    Government just keep piling on the costs

    29
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    Mute If you're
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 10:03 PM

    From Louth, born in the Lourdes. Had a walk around Drogheda recently. First time in maybe twenty years. Jaysus, I couldn’t believe it. The place is dying on its feet. It’s sad. I loved Drogheda. Lefty politicians like the aforementioned are not the solution. Hopefully it will rise up.

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    Mute Patrice Ahern
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    Jul 3rd 2024, 8:00 PM

    Effing judge nolan is at it again. Perhaps that poor defendant should be compensated. What’s that you say? The victim? Tough luck, the victim was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Next, enter that other buffoon o’donnell from Limk. So angry.

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    Mute Joe Kelly
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    Jul 6th 2024, 8:33 AM

    @Patrice Ahern: whats has that to do with drogheda

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    Mute Adam Condon
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    Jul 4th 2024, 12:20 AM

    BD Drogheda was to close mid 2000’s but survived through voluntary redundancy and a re-orientation of the plant. Best wishes to all impacted but politicians/ IDA asleep at the wheel here if no other large companies were brought to a vibrant town / area with a ~19 year warning..

    8
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