Up to 40 workers at a fish processing plant in Wexford are facing redundancy.
The production workers at the Wrights of Howth Exports prawn processing plant in Kilmore Quay, are to be made redundant, with the company blaming changing international markets for the cuts.
Wrights of Howth has also cited the number of foreign companies buying prawns in Ireland and processing them abroad as a contributing factor, claiming it had lost business as a result.
Labour Party TD for Wexford Brendan Howlin said the announcement was a "major blow" to the maritime industry in the county, at a time when it is already reeling from a series of setbacks.
"First and foremost my sympathies are with staff and their families who have received this news today. The 40 redundancies announced by Wrights of Howth Exports, Kilmore Quay Ltd, are a major surprise. This company was well-established and had been, apparently, operating successfully up until today's announcement.
"However, competition from cheaper processing methods overseas seem to have impacted severely on the plant."
"It is incumbent on Wexford's fisheries Minister John Browne to make an immediate statement regarding the Kilmore Quay losses specifically, and the survival of the fishing industry in the area generally."
