The future looks uncertain for the Ford assembly plant in Cork.
For over 60 years the Ford plant has provided steady employment for the city of Cork and its workers. The plant developed quickly helped by the protectionist measures by Fianna Fáil in the 1930s.
Behind this wall of protection, Irish manufacturers didn't have to worry about competition from imports.
Things have changed and the end of 1984 will see the lifting of restrictions on importing fully assembled cars into Ireland. The future is not going to be easy and even with protection motor industry plants have closed.
Talbot, Fiat, British Leyland, all gone.
For 20 successful years the Ford Cortina came off the assembly line at the Cork plant which now concentrates on the production of Ford Sierras. These cars are also produced in Ford’s English and Belgian factories.
The Cork plant has output of 400 Sierras a week, most of which are immediately exported. The Ford factory in Belgium produces 6,000 cars a week and in England 3,500 cars a week come off the production line.
A depressed car market in Europe means Ford is finding it difficult to sell all their Sierras.
Too many cars, not enough buyers.
Across Europe Ford is cutting back. Three day working weeks are being introduced in some plants. On top of this, the Cork plant is temporarily closed as there is no steam available to clean and paint the cars.
The steam boiler is occupied by workers from rubber manufacturers Dunlop who are protesting over redundancy payments. As a result finished cars are not coming off the assembly lines in Cork. Every day of production lost at Ford in Cork costs £750,000.
Cork itself, already hit by high unemployment and the loss of Dunlops, the closure of Fords is frightening.
Ford is reluctant to confirm if the company plan to stay in Cork beyond 1984. Nearly 1,100 workers depend on Ford for their livelihoods and they are fearful for the long term future of the Cork plant.
This 'Today Tonight’ report was broadcast on 11 October 1983. The reporter is Gerry Foley.
