Managment at Roche Ireland are meeting with staff and unions today following its annoucement that its to wind down operations at its Clarecastle facility.
The future of 240 employees and up to 200 additional contract staff hangs in the balance after the pharma company confirmed plans to exit the site.
The decision follows a global review of operations and Roche will exit their site in phases, over three years with the Clare site one of four plants being wound down by the company worldwide.
The Managing Director of Roche Ireland says the company will engage with reputable pharma companies over the next three to six months while working closely with the IDA to secure a new buyer, ahead of a wind-down of operations by 2019.
Ennisman Gerry Cahill has told Clare FM that every effort is being made to save jobs.
Management at the company are holding meetings with staff members and unions today to provide reassurances to those working there.
SIPTU represents 100 staff working at the Clarecastle facility, Union Organiser Alan O'Leary remains cautiously optimistic that a new buyer will be found.
Across the political spectrum, there has been an air of shock and disappointment at the decision to close the Clarecastle facility.
The Leas-Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council says the entire community of Clarecastle and beyond is devastated and worried for their future.
But Fine Gael Councillor Mary Howard says now is the time for calm.
The Mayor of Ennis, Fianna Fail Councillor Pat Daly says the closure will have a devastating impact on the economy with a loss of 20 million euro expected.
Clare's Fianna Fáil TD is calling on his fellow representatives to put politics aside and work together to come up with a viable solution going forward.
Deputy Timmy Dooley says efforts made in the past to prevent similar closures have been effective and he hopes the same can be said in the case of Roche.
On the streets of Clarecastle, many people have been telling Clare FM that the entire community will suffer as a result of job losses if it comes to pass.
