A US telecom equipment maker Artesyn is to close its plant in Youghal Co Cork with the loss of 160 jobs. Workers were informed of the closure which will be phased over nine months.
The Tánaiste, Ms Harney has described the news of job loses as a "shocking blow" to the workers and their families, particularly at this time of the year.
She added: "I know that over the last number of months the management at the facility has fought very hard to keep the manufacturing operations going.However it appears that Youghal, like a number of other Artesyn facilities around the world, is another victim of the continuing decline in the global telecoms market."