Fine Gael leader Michael Noonan has called on the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, to take personal charge of the mounting jobs crisis to ensure Irish workers are protected.
Mr Noonan said Mr Ahern should enter talks with the social partners to devise a plan to offset job losses.
He accused the Government of squandering Ireland’s recent economic boom and said the current coalition has failed to ensure that the public benefited from this prosperity.