Irish Ferries offers voluntary redundancy to 543 workers

Irish Ferries has announced moves to replace staff working on its Irish Sea routes with cheaper employees from other EU countries.

The company said today that it was offering voluntary redundancy packages to all 543 seafaring employees on the Dublin-Holyhead and Rosslare-Pembroke services.

It said any staff who did not take up the offer would have to accept a change in their working conditions and lower pay, but would be compensated for these changes.

Irish Ferries, which has already implemented a similar programme on its Rosslare-Cherbourg service, said the move was necessary in order to cut costs and remain in business.