IRISH Ferries has denied that 400 workers will be laid off when the company ends its winter sailings in November.
The company said that cutting bits services between Rosslare and Le Havre and Cherbourg from November would result in a temporary lay off of fewer than 200 workers.
A spokesman said the company hoped to have full consultations with the unions about the matter later this month. He denied the decision was a shock or a surprise, as had been reported.
The service was being ended because of continuing losses on, winter sailings. Services would be resumed in March or April of 1997. "We will be maintaining a strong presence on Continental routes in the summer. These are temporary lay offs and not job losses."
He denied that there had been lack of consultation with the unions. "The unions were well aware of the situation for some time."