100 jobs to go in Munster

Fine Gael has blamed job losses in Munster today on the budget of Charlie McCreevy.

US company Sram is laying off 66 people in its Carrick-on-Suir plant, citing competition from China.

Meanwhile, Irish Distillers is closing a bottling plant in Cork and laying off 28 staff. The company said sales of whiskey and gin had fallen after the Budget imposed higher excise duties on spirits.

"The 100 job losses announced today in Tipperary and Cork are a direct result of Government policies," said Fine Gael Enterprise, Trade & Employment Spokesman Phil Hogan.

"This Government, which claims to be a great proponent of job creation, has hammered employment prospects with additional taxation since the last general election," said Deputy Hogan.