GOOD NEWS DAY An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD with Brent Saunders, Allergan’s Chairman, President and CEO. Pic: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland.
Michael Duffy
As they prepare to mark the fortieth anniversary since establishing their Irish base and main global manufacturing facility in Westport, Allergan Inc have today announced an additional investment of €42 million in its Irish operations for 2017. The company, which employs approximately 1,700 people in Ireland, with approximately 1,100 of those in Westport, also announced details of a new €50,000 Innovation Award Programme with Irish colleges around the country.
Allergan also announced today that it will become the official sponsor of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation as part of a three-year sponsorship. The announcements coincide with the Allergan Global Leadership Team meeting in Dublin.
Allergan operates three facilities in Ireland, two manufacturing operations at Westport and one at Clonshaugh in Dublin, as well as an international supply chain office in Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin.
The Westport and Clonshaugh facilities develop and manufacture a range of branded medicines primarily for the export market. This year’s investment of €42 million across its Clonshaugh and Westport manufacturing operations will support increased manufacturing capabilities for some of Allergan’s key current and future products. The investment in Westport will go towards adding additional capacity to its eye care manufacturing operations and the expansion of its ocular implant manufacturing facility to accommodate both a capacity increase for existing products and the capability to accommodate new products using this technology platform, which are currently under development.
Contribution to the Irish economy
According to Economic Consultants DKM, Allergan has made a significant contribution to the Irish economy since its establishment 40 years ago, with investments in Ireland estimated at a cumulative €610 million to 2017. While the company primarily manufactures pharmaceutical products for the global market, the firm‘s impact on the local Irish economy is significant, supporting an additional 600 jobs indirectly in the supply chain and 500 jobs in the wider economy.
Marking Allergan’s 40 years in Ireland, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, TD, said: “Four decades ago, Allergan had the confidence and foresight to invest in Ireland developing their first facility at Westport, and a second facility in 1992 at Clonshaugh in North Dublin. I have seen first-hand the growth of the company in Mayo from roughly 25 jobs in 1977 and how they became an integral part of the community, which has since expanded to over 1,100 jobs in Westport. Allergan were amongst the early arrivals to Ireland and helped to sow the seeds of what was then our emerging pharmaceutical sector, which thankfully took root with much vigour over the intervening years. Allergan has undoubtedly made a significant contribution to making Ireland home to a world class pharmaceutical industry and I wish to thank them for their ongoing commitment to their Irish operations.”
Speaking today, Allergan’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Brent Saunders said: “As Allergan continues to grow its operations globally, Ireland continues to be a cornerstone of that growth. Our success has been built on strong teams globally, including our highly talented team we have here in Ireland, operating at state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities producing pharmaceutical products for the global market. We are excited to announce continued investment in our Ireland operations, which will help Allergan continue to provide patients in Ireland and around the world with our innovative medicines.”
Innovation Award
Since 1977, Allergan has built strong relationships and collaborated closely with local and national Universities and Institutes of Technology, assisting in the design and provision of courses, and providing internships and permanent employment opportunities for students. To coincide with Allergan’s 40th Anniversary, the Company is pleased to announce a new annual €50,000 Innovation Award Programme. The Inaugural Allergan Innovation Award Programme will partner with six Colleges around Ireland, to recognise and support scholars who have excelled through innovative research in the field of Life Sciences.
The six colleges involved in this year’s Innovation Award Programme are Trinity College Dublin, UCD, NUI Galway, IT Sligo, DCU and Galway-Mayo IT.
Commenting on the new Allergan Innovation Award, Pat O’Donnell, Senior Vice President, Global Manufacturing, Allergan, said: “We are pleased to be able to build on our longstanding relationship with communities here in Ireland, providing educational support to universities and colleges around the country. We hope that this Innovation Award will inspire more students who wish to establish themselves within the field of Life Sciences. Collaborating with these colleges is an exciting initiative for all involved, and we look forward to the positive results and experiences it will bring for students and our industry.”
Golf sponsorship
Allergan also announced plans for a three-year sponsorship as the Official Sponsor of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, beginning in 2017. Additional details will be provided by the European Tour.
James Finnigan, Head of Rolex Series Commercial Partnerships at the European Tour, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Allergan as an Official Sponsor of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation as part of a new three-year agreement. The tournament is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the sporting calendar on the island of Ireland and in 2017 it will be an integral part of the Rolex Series. We look forward to developing this exciting new partnership with Allergan and thank them for their commitment to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, hosted by the Rory Foundation.”
