Hewlett-Packard to axe 133 Irish jobs

LONG-TERM fears for multinational job security strengthened last night with the announcement by computer giant Hewlett-Packard (HP) that it expects to cut up to 133 jobs at its Irish operations over the next two years.

The news was not a huge surprise as HP said last month it was to cut nearly 25,000 jobs worldwide over the next three years — mainly as a result of merging its recently acquired business services outsourcing company, EDS, into the greater workings of the group.

HP employs around 4,000 people in manufacturing facilities in Leixlip and Dublin and administration offices in Galway and Belfast. EDS’ Irish operations currently employ around 400 people.