Ulster Unionist MLAs Ivan Davis and Billy Bell have held urgent talks with Economy Minister Sir Reg Empey over the decision to close the Warners factory in Dromore with the loss of 100 jobs.

The Lagan Valley representatives said they were given assurances by the Minister that everything possible would be done to lessen the impact of the job losses and the effects on the local economy.

The two MLAs said Sir Reg explained the background to the decision by Warners’ parent company, Warnoco, and said that Invest NI and the Training and Employment Agency would work together in an effort to secure alternative employment opportunities.

After their meeting, in a joint statement, the MLAs, said: “We know from Sir Reg that Warners have recorded substantial losses in Northern Ireland in the past year and that it could no longer continue as a viable clothing manufacturer in the Province.

“All production is being moved offshore, mostly to North America, and this is a crying shame. This has nothing whatsoever to do with the skill or commitment of the workforce and everything to do with a lower cost base and cheap labour.

“This is a sector in great upheaval. However, that’s little consolation to the workforce and we asked Sir Reg to instruct his officials to re-double their efforts to find replacement work for the people who are directly affected.

“Dromore needs to be made a priority and we will campaign for it to be kept at the top of the economic agenda.”

(SP)