70 jobs lost at Waterford city plant:
Seventy jobs are to be lost at the Kromberg & Schubert manufacturing plant in Waterford city. New contracts are to be handled in Hungary.
The company, which once employed more than 1,000 people in Waterford, now has a workforce of about 130. It manufactures cables, wires and leads for the car industry.
While the company has not commented on its plans, it is understood from union sources that 35 of the jobs to be lost are in direct production and 35 involve administrative staff.
Waterford's mayor, Cllr Oliver Clery, said yesterday that the city appeared to be "haemorrhaging" jobs to lower-cost locations.
He said Waterford must now "look within itself" to create employment opportunities.
Closure averted of Wexford A&E
The threatened closure of the accident and emergency unit at Wexford General Hospital has been averted.
The unit was due to close next Monday as a result of the unexpected departure of two non-consultant hospital doctors and the decision by the Medical Council to refuse temporary registration for two non-EU doctors who were prepared to replace them until the end of June. The council does not give such short-term registrations.
Now, however, the South Eastern Health Board has said the matter is resolved. In a statement it said clinical staff at the hospital had deferred leave and a surgical registrar from Waterford Regional Hospital had agreed to transfer to Wexford to enable the A&E department to remain open.
Union refuses talks with firm
SIPTU has refused to enter talks with Wellman International in Cavan on a rationalisation plan, including redundancies, until the company agrees to pay staff as agreed under the terms of the national wage deal.
After a meeting yesterday between the company and SIPTU's Cavan branch secretary, Mr Gerry McCormack, the union said it believed the wage agreement was being used "as a lever to implement the rationalisation plan which is totally unacceptable". Under the plan, 67 jobs would be lost through out-sourcing of staff. Some 383 people work at the plant, in Mullagh, which produces synthetic fibres and is Europe's largest recycler of polyester bottles.
Pornography case is adjourned
The case of a Co Waterford man who has pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography was adjourned for a month yesterday at Waterford District Court.
Michael Breen (52), Meadowbrook, Tramore, Co Waterford, has pleaded guilty to possession on May 27th, 2002, of child pornography including images of young children.
The case arises from Operation Amethyst during which gardaí raided over 90 properties.