Varadkar attacked by IBM in job losses row

Technology giant IBM tonight attacked a senior Opposition politician in a row over the loss of up to 190 jobs at one of its Dublin plants.

Technology giant IBM tonight attacked a senior Opposition politician in a row over the loss of up to 190 jobs at one of its Dublin plants.

The multinational confirmed workers at Mulhuddart were in redundancy consultations as a result of its shifting server manufacturing to China.

But a spokesman accused Fine Gael energy spokesman Leo Varadkar of political posturing over the lay-offs after he said it would devastate his Dublin West constituency.

“He is being unfair and inaccurate,” said the IBM spokesman.

“It’s political manoeuvring really from someone who has never visited the IBM technology campus.”

Mr Varadkar said it was bizarre the company would “pick a fight” with him at a time when so many jobs were on the line.

“I think they should be concentrating on ensuring they have a good package in place for employees rather than trying to pick a fight with a politician,” he said.

“I’m a bit surprised.”

Mr Varadkar said Dublin had already suffered massively from IBM job losses and flagged up the multinational’s low tax rates and Government grants.

But an IBM spokesman said it would retain a number of the staff affected and was also recruiting employees in other areas such as software and services.

By the end of March 2011, the head count at its Mulhuddart plant will be the same as it is currently, he said.

An insider at the company claimed between 19 and 65 of the 190 people affected by the move of operations from the technology campus to Shenzhen in China could be redeployed.

Labour deputy leader Joan Burton described the job losses as a bitter blow to employees and their families.

Mr Varadkar said he was visiting the IBM plant on Friday as he could not arrange an earlier date during the summer.

Separately, redundancies are feared at Shannon Aerospace in Co Clare after workers there were called to a meeting tomorrow morning.

Fine Gael TD Pat Breen suggested hundreds of jobs were under threat.

“The loss of so many jobs would be devastating to Shannon and the entire region,” he said.

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