merrion street

Jobs Minister Richard Bruton today welcomed news that the Bausch & Lomb facility in Waterford will remain open following decisions by SIPTU and the TEEU in separate ballots to accept restructuring proposals put to them by Bausch and Lomb.

This is an extremely tough time for the workers at Bausch and Lomb and their families. The decisions they were faced with are extremely difficult.

The process to save and then secure the long-term future of the Bausch + Lomb facility in Waterford has been going on for many months and involved a coordinated effort from a range of organisations and people, including the Labour Relations Commission, IDA Ireland and officials of my Department and I wish to pay tribute to them.

The vote by workers is by far the most difficult and important part of that process and I wish to pay tribute to and thank them in particular.

Bausch & Lomb is committed to invest in the future of its Waterford plant, in order to put in new technologies and attract new product lines. I will work closely with IDA Ireland and the company to maximise the possibilities for expansion of the Waterford plant.