Waterford Crystal is to let go up to 20 temporary workers at their manufacturing headquarters in the city.
The workers have been given one week's notice, with a source at the plant adding that a further round of temporary lay-offs may be imminent.
The company has been experiencing difficulties following a slowdown in the global economy, which - coupled with the war in Iraq - has impacted on demand for luxury goods and visitor numbers to the Kilbarry site.
Last month, Waterford Wedgwood, which - through Waterford Crystal - employs 1,600 people at two factories in Waterford, reported lower than expected sales for the first two months of the year.
Talks on home birth scheme
The Western Health Board (WHB) has agreed to meet opponents of a plan to scrap its Home Birth and Domino Scheme after a dozen of them staged a protest outside the monthly meeting of the health authority in Galway yesterday.
WHB officials will arrange a meeting with representatives of the protesters this morning, following the demonstration over their plan to scrap a service which allows mothers to give birth at home or to reduce the time they spend in hospital. "We have to work towards an agreement on an early basis," said the chairwoman of the health board, Councillor Mary Hoade.
Minister's brother on health board
Councillor Sean Martin (FF), the brother of the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, yesterday replaced Mr Noel O'Flynn TD on the board of the Southern Health Board.
Mr Martin will represent Cork City Council on the board. He is the first of a number of replacements for sitting TDs because of the end of the dual mandate.
Long wait for breast checks
The BreastCheck screening programme for women between the ages of 50 and 64 will not be available in the Southern Health Board area until at least mid-2005, it emerged at a meeting of the board yesterday.
This was because the extension announced recently by the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, will require a new capital project as well as the recruitment of a considerable number of specialist staff, the meeting was told.
Fine Gael TD Mr Simon Coveney said the service was not even guaranteed in 2005. Women in Cork and Kerry were being discriminated against and were not receiving the same level of health care as in other parts of the country, he said.
Airport lobby group in revamp
A group whose priority is securing the future of Shannon Airport has been revamped, amid a high level of concern over the introduction of the open skies deal.
The Shannon Airport Western Alliance was established in November 2001 to concentrate on various interests in the mid-west.
The alliance consists of members of various organisations, including the Chambers of Commerce in the mid-west, Clare County Council, Shannon Development and SIPTU in Shannon.
Gardai seize ecstasy tablets
Gardaí in Waterford have seized ecstasy tablets with an estimated street value of €15,000.
Up to 1,000 tablets were discovered in the Larchville/Lisduggan area of the city in the early hours of Sunday morning, as part of a continuing drugs operation. A man and woman were arrested nearby and questioned at Waterford Garda Station. A file is being prepared for the DPP.