Up to 225 jobs will be lost over the next six months at the Braun manufacturing plant in Carlow.
The company, which makes personal care products, confirmed yesterday that its workforce in the town would be reduced from 805 to 580 as part of a detailed review of its worldwide operations.
The 225 jobs include 90 seasonal workers who would have been expected to cease employment at the end of the summer. In a statement, Braun, which established its Carlow operation in 1974, said it very much regretted the job losses and would "endeavour to ensure that manufacturing costs at Carlow remain competitive, thus ensuring that the remaining jobs are sustainable for the future".
The company is owned by the Gillette corporation in the US.
Reacting to the company's announcement, the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, said she was "extremely disappointed" and that the priority now was to find alternative employment for those who would lose their jobs.
"FÁS will interact immediately with the Braun workforce to ensure that they have the skills necessary to avail of alternative employment opportunities. Braun has been a much-valued employer in Carlow for many years and will still employ over 500 people. The company will continue to make a major contribution to the local economy in the future."
Carlow/Kilkenny Fianna Fáil TD Mr M.J. Nolan said Braun had been a cornerstone of industry not only in Carlow but across Leinster for almost three decades. "In a lot of cases, husbands and wives work together in Braun so obviously it's a particularly dreadful situation for them."
He said Ms Harney should act immediately to help maintain or improve employment levels in this area where unemployment was already above the national average. "On a more positive note, it is encouraging that Braun has confirmed it is committed to Carlow and will still employ over 500 people here," he added.
Fine Gael spokesman for enterprise, trade and employment Mr Phil Hogan said the job losses showed the Government's inability to make the Irish economy competitive.
"It is now clear that over the last five years the costs associated with employment and the costs of running a business have gone out of control," he said.
While acknowledging the magnitude of the job losses, the chief executive of Carlow Chamber of Commerce, Ms Jackie McNabb, said she also believed Braun would remain a key player in the local economy.
"Obviously the loss of 225 jobs at Braun is similar to a small- to medium-sized factory closing down completely. While we were aware that the company would be streamlining, the announcement still comes as a shock. It will have a huge impact on the employees in the plant."
IDA Ireland area director Ms Mary Buckley said the IDA was investing €8 million in a new 70-acre business and technology park in Carlow that is due for completion before the end of this year.
