Lifeline For Westmeath Plant

A potential survival plan has been presented to Westmeath plant workers, who are facing major job losses.

A substantial number of the 420 jobs could be saved if plans for the Iralco manufacturing site are approved.

Although some redundancies would result from the plans, as a means of improving efficiencies.

A two-hour meeting was held with staff yesterday to provide a platform for consultation.

Employees heard of a number of internals procedures that would need to be implemented for the plant to remain open.

A spokesman for potential buyer John Flaherty said: "There will be a level of redundancies, there's obviously efficiency to be achieved."

He said it would be inappropriate to comment on how many and under what conditions.

"There is a voluntary offer on the table and we would hope that the voluntary offer would achieve the targets."

Iralco, a producer of high-quality, decorative car trims, has been in liquidation since April,

John Flaherty did not make any comment regarding the meeting, and insisted he did not want to pre-empt any decision made by workers, who will vote on the proposals this week.

Labour TD Willie Penrose, who attended the meeting, said: "Last April we were looking at a very serious situation with over 400 jobs to be lost.

"Now there is an opportunity to secure the majority of the jobs but there are issues which workers will have to reflect on over the next 48 hours."

An announcement on the staffs' decision is due on Thursday.

(PR/JM)