Medical devices firm Abbott has informed staff in Clonmel that it is seeking 200 redundancies from its permanent

work force. The company is seeking to achieve the redundancies on a voluntary basis and is now entering into a 30-day consultation period with its employees. In addition, a few dozen contractor positions will not be renewed when their contracts expire at the end of March at the vascular manufacturing operations plant. The proposed redundancies are part of adjustments we are making to meet the evolving needs of the business and to remain competitive in a challenging global environment. Abbott's vascular facility in Clonmel currently employs more than 1,400 people, and the facility remains strategically important to Abbott's global vascular manufacturing network. The company says that in the future, the Clonmel site will focus primarily on the manufacture of newer, advanced medical devices. Capital investment will be made at the site this year to enable it to manufacture these innovative medical technologies.