Dublin South West Sinn Féin TD, Seán Crowe, expressed his astonishment at the job losses announced by Minister for State John Perry, who told TDs in the Dáil that 107 jobs in Pratt & Whitney Aviation International (PWAI), and 408 at the Lufthansa plant in Rathcoole, County Dublin, were to go.

Crowe said that workers were hoping to hear positive news from the Minister about what measures the Government were taking to secure their jobs, and they must have been devastated to hear that their jobs are now to go.

Deputy Crowe said:

“I was astonished to hear Minister Perry announce these huge job losses.

“Workers and their families listening to the debate had been told by management last Friday that their jobs were under threat, but this announcement from the Minister will come as a huge blow.

“Positive proposals when it comes to saving jobs seems to be beyond the ability of this government.

“The job losses at PWAI and Lufthansa don’t add up. They are both successful and profitable companies, with highly skilled and adaptable staff.

“Management have told the staff that they were not at fault for the job losses or the crisis, and the sacrifices and adaptability of the staff was also commended.

“Minister Perry’s announcement is devastating for these workers and their families, especially in the run up to what will now be a very difficult Christmas.

“The Minister and his Cabinet clearly have no answers, no new initiatives, and lack the ability to save these viable jobs.

“It is a scandal that workers hopes should be destroyed by a Minister reading a script. No employee should be informed that their job is gone in this flippant and thoughtless way.

“Minister Perry needs to apologise to the staff in these companies, but more importantly he needs to introduce measures to save these highly skilled jobs.”