Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has met with Michelin's EU Relations Director in Brussels to discuss the devastating impact of the company's decision to close its Ballymena plant. The issue of high energy costs in Northern Ireland was raised in the discussions.
Mr Nicholson said:
"I made it clear to Michelin's Brussels representative today that the decision to close their Ballymena plant will have dreadful consequences for the North Antrim area and Northern Ireland as a whole. Not only will 860 families have to come to terms with these job losses, the impact will reverberate and indirectly cost even more jobs locally.
"One issue identified by Michelin was one we have heard raised time and time again - high energy costs in Northern Ireland. How much more pain does our manufacturing sector have to take before the Northern Ireland Executive begins to take this issue seriously?
"Coupled with recent announcements of job losses from Invista, Sensata Technologies and Caterpillar this week, it is becoming increasingly clear that, Northern Ireland is facing a serious manufacturing crisis. With local industry taking hit after hit, now is the time for actions not words from the Northern Ireland Executive and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
"I will continue to press the case in Brussels to see what can be done at the European level to help these families and to help address the challenges facing our local manufacturing industry as a whole."