No job losses at Tullamore distillery assures councillor

Councillor Declan Harvey has moved to assure people there will be no job losses at the Tullamore D.E.W. Distillery at Clonminch.Cllr Harvey was speaking at the April Municipal District meeting.

The Tullamore Tribune reported this week that whiskey production is to cease at the distillery for up to three months amid challenging conditions internationally for the Tullamore D.E.W. Brand. The report said that three of the nine stills at the distillery in Clonminch will initially pause production, followed by another three for a further three months.

Cllr Harvey said he had been contacted by people who work in Tullamore D.E.W and had been assured there would be ''no job losses whatsoever.''

''There are a couple of machines closed down temporarily at this time of the year. It's an ongoing thing, there are no job losses. Staff out there will get their increases and wages. They are hoping to expand this year again. Some people said it to me on the street that they heard Tullamore D.E.W.was in trouble out there. As far as I am aware they are not in any trouble, they are doing very well, they are doing what they do every year they have seasonal workers, they bring them in and bring them out. Staff that are there all have their jobs, I am just clarifying that,'' he said.

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Councillor Shane Murray who works for William Grant and Sons excused himself while Councillor Declan Harvey was speaking as it would be a conflict of interest.

Tullamore D.E.W. is the second best selling Irish whiskey globally after Jameson but says it is number one in a number of markets, including some European countries.