Job task force for region ‘not shelved’

THE Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment rejected claims yesterday that a Task Force launched by Tánaiste Mary Harney for Donegal in 1999 had been shelved, claiming more than 1,000 jobs had been created since it was set up.

However, SIPTU Donegal branch secretary Sean Reilly said this was nothing to boast about when 4,000 jobs had been lost in the past five years on a very conservative estimate.

Meanwhile, the clothing company Fruit of the Loom made it clear yesterday they would press ahead with plans to close its two Irish factories over a period of five years with the loss of more than 630 jobs.