O’Dea accused of inventing Dell jobs to soften fallout

DEFENCE Minister Willie O’Dea has been accused of inventing phantom jobs to try and limit the political fallout from Dell’s switch to Poland.

Tánaiste Mary Coughlan also came under heavy fire for failing to turn up in Limerick as the axe fell on the computer giant’s assembly plant.

Mr O’Dea was dubbed a “kite flyer” for making claims that the IDA were engaged in advanced talks with Dell to add 750 jobs to the 1,100 engineering and R&D jobs they will retain in Limerick.