Coulter expresses regret at Cullybackey job losses

Rev Dr Robert Coulter, the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly member for North Antrim and UUP Stormont Commissioner, has expressed his "deep regret" at the announced closure of the Stevenson food processing plant in Cullybackey with the expected loss of up to 100 jobs.

Dr Coulter said: "This is extremely unfortunate news and will come as a major blow to all the people who worked at Stevensons as well as their families, especially at this time of year when many families are already making plans for the Christmas festivities."

"The Department for Employment and Learning and the Department for Enterprise , Trade and Investment must work together to provide all possible help and assistance for those who will be made redundant."

"Considering the scale of these job losses and the fact that the company has operated in Cullybackey for many years, I believe it would be appropriate for DETI to establish a special task force for this crisis.

"But for this to happen it is imperative that the Executive gets back to business as soon as possible for the benefit not just of the North Antrim constituency, but for the whole Northern Ireland community.

"It would be a terrible shame if having worked so hard to get devolution restored to our Province, more companies like Stevensons faced closure across Northern Ireland because we did not have a fully operational Executive to help our economy combat the effects of the current credit crunch," said Assemblyman Dr Coulter.