Harney pledges 'fair and decent' IFI severance

A workers' delegation from Irish Fertilizer Industries (IFI) met the Tánaiste, Ms Mary Harney, this morning to discuss the closure of the company.

The Tanaiste, Ms Harney, who is understood to have assured workers that the company's shareholders would provide a "fair and decent" severance package for Irish Fertilizer Industries staff.

Ms Harney is understood to have assured workers that the company's shareholders would provide additional funding to ensure a "fair and decent" severance package.

The Tánaiste gave an undertaking the workers would get more than statutory redundancy. She also entertained the possibility that part of the company might be sold as a going concern. However, she said she did not want to raise false hopes.

Ms Harney promised a scheme for the re-skilling and re-training of workers would be put in place. She confirmed that the company would be proposing a liquidator shortly and that a creditors' meeting would be held in around two weeks' time.

IFI told staff on Tuesday the company was to close its plants in Cork, Arklow and Belfast with the loss of 620 jobs.