More than 100 jobs have been lost in Limerick and Mayo as a result of the closure of a packaging business, announced yesterday.
Staff at Fitzpatrick Packaging Ltd in Limerick, and its Mayo-based subsidiary, Fitz-Pack Cartons Ltd, were told on Monday that the companies were going into liquidation.
A total of 119 people were employed at the two plants.
Management said a fire at an electrical sub-station had disrupted the company's manufacturing process for three months.
The company also cited difficulties in reaching a settlement with insurers as a factor in its being forced to cease operations.
Expressing sympathy with the workers who lost their jobs, the Limerick Labour TD, Ms Jan O'Sullivan, said the immediate priority must be to ensure their early return to employment.
"Though these redundancies have been flagged for some time, the loss of so many jobs at such an established employer is extremely unfortunate," she said.
Ms O'Sullivan said Limerick had suffered badly on the jobs front across all industries in recent months.
Yesterday's announcement was the third about major job losses to hit Munster within a week. Sports Socks Ireland in Co Kerry said it was ceasing production in the Republic, with the loss of 165 jobs, while Honeywell said it would be seeking 82 voluntary redundancies from the 561 workers at its car-engine parts plant in Waterford.