Nortel, the Canadian telecommunications giant, has refused to comment on trade union fears that a further 200 jobs could be axed in Northern Ireland as part of a 15,000 person global redundancy programme.

Industry sources say the group is likely to make several hundred contract workers at the plant in Monkstown redundant because of the recent downturn experienced by several American technology companies.

Earlier this year, Nortel cut 275 jobs in the North.