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| Europe from the European Space Agency's Envisat satellite.
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Overnight, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Coughlan TD announced the establishment by AMPAC (American Pacific Corporation), of their Dublin operation as the AMPAC-ISP Groups’ European Headquarters with the expectation of 20 new "highly skilled" jobs over a 5 year period supported by the Irish Government with the aid of IDA Ireland. According to Coughaln, AMPAC-ISP Dublin Ltd is one of Europe’s leading companies in the design and manufacture of mission critical structural components for the European Space Industry.
With thousands of people losing their jobs each week in Ireland, it may seem bizarre for a minister to make an announcement of 4 new jobs per year. But this is politics and why not take credit for good news no matter how insignificant?
While every new job is welcome, it will take more than the regularly touted "high value" jobs to impact the Live Register total, currently heading for 500,000.
AMPAC-ISP Europe has been awarded a €7.5 million, five-year production contract, with French company Snecma for the provision of structural components for the Ariane 5 Space launcher. The contract results from R&D funding provided by the European Space Agency, with the support of Enterprise Ireland.
Coughlan commented: “The creation of 20 high value jobs through the expansion by AMPAC of its Dublin facility and the decision to locate the company’s European headquarters in Dublin, are positive examples of the Smart Economy in action. Ireland continues to be an attractive destination for foreign direct investment because of the consistent focus on R&D and innovation. On behalf of the Irish Government I welcome this announcement by AMPAC which illustrates what can be achieved when an Irish company engages with EU initiatives like the European Space Agency.”
American Pacific Corporation (AMPAC), headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada established in 1955 operates in three business segments: Specialty Chemicals, Fine Chemicals and Aerospace equipment.
