DRUGS COMPANY GSK is to shed 94 jobs in Cork with the closure of a unit which provides financial services to the rest of the group.

GlaxoSmithKline Trading Services Ltd, which is currently based close to Cork Airport, will move the unit to Britain.

The transfer will continue throughout the year, with staff given the option to relocate if they wish.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, whose Cork South-Central constituency includes the business park where the unit was based, called for an “immediate and interagency response” to tackle the job losses.

“The 94 families affected by this terrible news will rightly expect that the response from Government is swift and co-ordinated,” he said.

“Many of those working with GSK will have skill sets that are much in demand. It is important that every effort be made by the government agencies to ensure that these skills are matched with what opportunities exist as soon as possible.”

The pharmaceutical giant – formed by the merger of Glaxo Wellcome and Smithkline Beecham in 2000 – employs over 1,500 people at its Irish facilities in Dublin, Cork and Dungarvan.

The company’s other Cork base in Carrigaline, which provides R&D services and production, is not affected.