Union negotiations to save Ispat plant resume

A last-ditch effort to save the Irish Ispat steel plant in Co Cork is to resume today.

The closure of the plant in Haulbowline, with the loss of 400 jobs, was announced last Friday.

The company had amassed losses of £10m during the past five years.

Environmental regulations, labour costs, energy prices and EU steel quotas were also cited as reasons for ceasing operations.

However, SIPTU - which represents 250 staff at the plant - refuses to accept the shutdown is irreversible.