Technology companies in Shannon said yesterday they would hire close to 600 more employees, while the inter-agency group formed to find new jobs for 500 Krups workers in nearby Limerick stepped up its efforts.
On a visit to Shannon, the Tanaiste, Ms Harney said the Canadian firm NTS Computer Systems was looking for 540 extra workers to bring its total payroll to 633, while the German software company NavaraSoft would create another 52 jobs.
In Limerick, the Tanaiste said the task force set up to find replacement jobs for the Krups workers would also focus on retraining. FAS was carrying out a skills profile of the employees to identify employment prospects arising from new and expanding projects in the area, Ms Harney added.
The NTS Computer Systems project will see a Government-backed investment of £15 million. The Tanaiste said the company had brought the Irish computer sector to a new level by being the first to develop and design a PC in the Republic.
"The new product has been designed to meet the demand, by the educational sector, for a low cost laptop with the ability to connect to the sources of the Internet," she added.
The new, portable computer weighs 5.5 lbs, is equipped with a built-in modem and is fully integrated for use in maths, social science studies, language, arts and science classes. It costs £600 less VAT and the Shannon company deals directly with the schools.
As she spoke, four young children worked on their "Dream Writer", a product created by some 18 Shannon-based Research and Development graduates, some of whom have returned from Australia and Canada for the work.
NavaraSoft, a subsidiary of one of Germany's largest independent software houses Dr Materna GmbH, said its 52 new employees would develop mobile computing business application solutions for world-wide distribution.
In Limerick, Ms Harney said the inter-agency task force - which includes representatives of IDA Ireland, Shannon Development, FAS and Krups - was looking especially at the medical device industry. This was a booming industry, the skills requirements of which appeared to match those of the Krups workers.
Ms Harney denied a suggestion that while in France she had persuaded the French company to consolidate in its Thurles plant. In fact, what she had endeavoured to do was to protect the Limerick and Thurles interests, she added, and at the end of the day it was the company that had made the decision to close Limerick.
Mr Dan Miller, assistant general secretary of TEEU, said the Krups craftworkers he represented were "probably the most up-skilled group of craftsmen in the country, as they were the very first multi-skilled workers to establish an agreement in the late 1970s" when multinational companies began to set up in the Republic.
At that time, workers' leaders travelled from all parts of the country to Limerick to study how the Krups workers had embarked on the new-style agreements, he added.
Mr Michael Long, the SIPTU branch secretary, stressed that the workers had demonstrated their flexibility, and had an outstanding industrial record over more than 30 years.
