‘Stark reminder’ of challenges facing country

THE Aviva job losses are a “stark reminder” of the need to make Ireland more competitive and reduce the cost base, the Taoiseach said.

While staff were given the news of the redundancies yesterday, the Taoiseach was answering leaders’ questions in the Dáil, which mainly focused on the Government’s response to the decision.

He said it was an “awful day” for workers in the insurance company and that he shared the empathy with the rest of the Dáil about the news.