ATGWU says recent job losses should be election issue

One of Ireland's leading trade unions is calling on politicians to stop focusing on tax cuts and promise measures to help manufacturing workers face job losses.

The call comes following the news this week that almost 900 jobs are to be shed at various factories in Munster over the coming years.

The ATGWU is calling for an emergency jobs summit to be held to discuss the situation, which it says should be an election issue.

"What it needs is a political focus and I wish the politicians would stop talking simply about tax cuts and focus on this issue," spokesman Mick O'Reilly said today.

Enterprise Minister Michael Martin, however, is insisting that there is no crisis situation as the Government is attracting more jobs into Ireland than the country is losing.

He also said the Government was focusing on helping people who lose their jobs to retrain and find new employment.