MP Tackles Mid Ulster Jobs Crisis

The Sinn Féin Mid Ulster MP Martin McGuinness has said that he will redouble his efforts to protect existing employment in his constituency.

He said yesterday that he will work to bring new jobs to the area after Meteor, Ireland's largest independent electrical wholesalers and one of the biggest employers in Mid Ulster, announced the loss of 70 jobs.

The Stormont Deputy First Minister (pictured) said: "This area has been hit hard by the downturn in the construction industry and the loss of this major local company is a blow to the economy.

"This is a family company that built an excellent reputation. I sympathise totally with the plight of these workers.

"As the local MP and the Deputy First Minister I will work with our local businesses to ensure that we can protect as many jobs as possible and particularly how we can bolster the construction industry where the downturn is having a knock on impact across our economy," he said.

Meteor Controls International Ltd, based on the Corchoney Road in the mid-Ulster town, formally ceased trading on Tuesday.

The company, which specialised in electrical wholesaling, had been trading for almost 25 years.

It is believed the firm was experiencing difficult trading conditions in recent months due to the downturn across the construction sector and exposure to foreign exchange fluctuations.

In a statement, Managing Director John Conway said: "It was with deep regret that the company had to take the difficult decision to cease trading with immediate effect, this despite the best efforts of all involved to keep the company in business."

See: : Impact Of Meteor Job Losses Felt Widely

(BMcC/JM)