Job losses in breast plant move

The company makes silicone breast implants

A County Wicklow factory which makes silicone breast implants is to close with the loss of 360 jobs.

US pharmaceutical company Allergan will phase out work at its factory in Arklow, south of Dublin, over two years and transfer operations to Costa Rica.

General manager of the Allergan plant Paul Moody paid tribute to the workers and thanked them for their dedication.

Ciaran Connolly of trade union SIPTU said labour and other costs were lower in central America than in Ireland.

In a statement, Allergan said: "For economic and operational reasons, Allergan will consolidate the manufacturing of its breast implant products to the company's state-of-the-art facility in Costa Rica."

Allergan, which also makes Botox anti-wrinkle injections, said it would keep its pharmaceutical plant in Westport, County Mayo, and its European shared services centre in Dublin, with 70 staff.

The company has 7,500 employees globally.

Fine Gael TD Billy Timmins said the news was devastating for Arklow and called on the Republic of Ireland's authorities to find replacement jobs as a matter of urgency.

It is understood redundancies will begin in Arklow in December.