There could be a silver lining on the horizon for the 180 Abbott workers in Sligo who will lose their jobs next year.

Five hundred jobs are expected to be created in Europe's first third-level centre of excellence for franchise development, in Limerick.

A delegation of MEPs has met with representatives of former Dell workers in Limerick.

Irish MEPs stepped up pressure on the European Commission today to explain why Brussels approved funding of more than €50m to help US computer giant Dell close its Limerick plant and move to Poland.

The Government has applied to the EU for €20m in funding to support the 1,900 Dell workers made redundant in Limerick.