Pictured at the European Parliament meeting between MEP, Barry Cowen and representatives from Zoetis were (l to r): Paul Fullerton, Head of CEO Operations at Zoetis Inc;Florian Schalke, International Public Affairs Lead;Barry Cowen, MEP;Jeannette Ferran Astorga, Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Communications and Chief Sustainability Officer; Willem Rijksen, Vice President, Head of Global Public Affairs andStan Baker, Head, Global Public Policy at Zoetis.

Tullamore company visits European Parliament

Former Laois/Offaly TD and now MEP, Barry Cowen, welcomed the senior management team from a Tullamore-based company to the European Parliament last week, along with other senior global and European management members.

As well as having a plant in Tullamore, Zoetis, which was formerly Pfizer Animal Health, currently operates manufacturing health products plants in Tallaght and Rathdrum in Dublin, and has been manufacturing animal health products in Ireland since 1975.

“They are a major employer locally in Tullamore and around the country with several hundred staff in well-paying STEM jobs" said Barry Cowen, "and they are continually modernising and expanding their sites."

He pointed to the recent considerable investment at their Tullamore plant which he said has "significantly increased its capacity to produce veterinary monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). These therapeutic biopharmaceuticals are one of the latest breakthroughs in animal health from the innovative pipeline of Zoetis products."

During their engagement in Brussels, the local MEP raised the issue of putting a new scholarship programme in place for veterinary students in recognition of Zoetis continued success in Ireland. "The senior management team confirmed to me that they were favourably disposed to my suggestion" said Mr. Cowen.