The Minister for Enterprise and Jobs is to meet workers at telecoms firm Talk Talk next week after news more than 570 jobs will be lost following the company's decision to close its facility in Waterford.
Staff were told of the company's decision at a meeting this afternoon. A 30-day consultation with employees is set to begin tomorrow.
Richard Bruton spoke to the TalkTalk chief executive after government agencies were notified. It is understood he was told the decision could not be reversed.
“My thoughts are with the workers impacted by this announcement by TalkTalk, as well as their families,” he said, adding he would be meeting management and local political and business representatives.
Mr Bruton urged management to consider giving workers, enterprise chiefs in IDA Ireland and government more time to find a new business for the facility.
“I have asked the IDA to ensure that they make every possible effort to find alternative solutions for this excellent premises and this skilled workforce in the event that the site is closed, as proposed by the company. They assure me that work on this has already started,” he said.
Unite trade union said the closure of TalkTalk is another blow to the people of the city and the country.
“Job losses not only affect those on the receiving end, they have a wider impact on the community, with less money available and less confidence,” said a spokesman.
Unite national co-ordinator Walter Cullen said the jobs news came less than 24 hours after details emerged of a €700,000 payment for top civil servant Dermot McCarthy.
“Labour leader Eamon Gilmore should force his colleagues to do something rather than issue empty sound bites that ‘pain should apply across the board’,” he said.
“The sense of anger among working people is added to by payments of over €250,000 to Bertie Ahern to cover expenses since he retired . . . and so many more instances of the gilded elite feathering their nest at the expense of people who cannot afford to eat.
“It is clear that there is one law for the rich in modern Ireland and another, much bleaker one for those outside the elite,” he said.
A Government backbencher has criticised the IDA for the spiralling job losses across Waterford.
John Deasy claimed the enterprise body significantly wound down its operations in the county over the last four to five years, with management taking charge from 70 miles away.
“There is an IDA office in the city, but it has been reduced dramatically and senior people have moved to Cork,” said the Waterford representative. This needs to be reinstated to maintain and create employment.”
Waterford Chamber wants Government, the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and the local councils to pull together to create employment in the area.
Anne Marie Caulfield, president, believes up to 3,000 jobs may have been lost in recent years with the closure of small firms affected by the massive lay-offs.
“We are concerned for the workers and the families of workers, and for the knock-on economic impact this will have for Waterford city,” she said. “Given the unemployment in the area it needs special attention.”
The IDA confirmed it has had a reorganisation of staff due to the employment embargo, the current economic climate and how business is won but said a team of executives in Waterford is focused on business generation.
Additional reporting PA