Thirty jobs have been lost at an internet tourist service firm in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, and a further 20 will go at its Dublin plant.

GoIreland.com has blamed the shutdown on a huge drop in business as a result of the US atrocities on September 11th.

The firm offered online reservations for tourism providers and guesthouse owners and more than 70 per cent of its business was in the US.

Although it had experienced some difficulties, with the downturn in the internet business worldwide and the foot-and-mouth crisis, the US attacks proved the final straw for the firm.

A company spokesman said: "We made every effort to save the jobs but it just wasn't possible. Seventy per cent of our business was American and the situation there closed off any prospect of further investment."

The Minister for Tourism and Sports, Dr McDaid, who lives in Donegal, expressed his disappointment at the closure. "This was one of the new start-up companies in Letterkenny and it's regrettable that 30 people have lost their jobs.

"The company had planned to increase the workforce but the US attacks of September 11th have devastated the tourism industry," he said.

Meanwhile, the Government's tax on plastic carrier bags to be introduced in February is threatening the closure of a factory in Derrybeg, west Donegal, with the loss of 23 jobs.

Plastic bag manufacturers EPI Teo (Earra∅ Pacβla Idirnβisi·nta) say the 12p tax levy will result in the plant's closure.

The company has already been told by customers that they will not require plastic bags after Christmas as they are switching to paper ones to avoid the tax.

EPI manufactures more than 70 million carrier bags each year for big names such as Aer Rianta, Arnotts, Brown Thomas, Clery's, Roches Stores and Dunnes Stores.