Two companies have announced 250 job losses in counties Mayo and Tipperary today.
Baxter Healthcare is to seek up to 150 voluntary redundancies from its 1,100-strong workforce in Mayo over the next 12 months and will cut about 50 temporary contracts, it confirmed.
Earlier, Bulmers said it would cut 50 jobs at its manufacturing plant in Clonmel.
In a statement, Baxter, a subsidiary of Baxter International, said the job cuts were driven by the global economic downturn, the subsequent impact of European healthcare cost-savings measures and the "ongoing need to improve our cost competitiveness".
"While decisions like this are difficult to take, this is a necessary step to secure the long-term viability of the operation."
Baxter, which makes products to treat conditions such as haemophilia, kidney disease and immune disorders, said it expected to achieve the majority of the job reductions through a voluntary process.
General manager Pat Gallagher said the manufacturing sites in Mayo would "continue to remain an important and integral part of the Baxter manufacturing network worldwide and we approach the future with confidence".
Fine Gael Mayo TD John O'Mahony said it was a "shattering blow" to Castlebar and the entire county.
He said he believed 120-full time, 30 administrative and 50 temporary jobs would be lost and he hoped generous terms would be offered to all those being made redundant.
"Baxter has been a wonderful employer for 30 years and the loss of these jobs will be keenly
felt everywhere in Mayo."
Mr O'Mahony called for IDA intervention and said "every effort" must be made to find each worker a new job.
Separately, Bulmers said 50 redundancies in Clonmel will be obtained on a voluntary basis where possible.
Management is to begin consultations with employees and trade union representatives with immediate effect and expects to have concluded the cost reduction and reorganisation programme by December.
Bulmers general manager Paul O'Sullivan expressed regret over the redundancies and said "a dramatically weakening consumer environment and the continued migration of cider volumes from the on to off trade channel" had affected the company's business in Ireland.
“In this challenging environment, we will take corrective action now to improve our competitiveness and move to secure the remaining 220 jobs in Clonmel. This restructuring programme will, I believe, position the Bulmers business on a much stronger footing to develop and prosper in the years ahead," he said.
Local Fine Gael TD Tom Hayes said the loss of the jobs was a "devastating blow".
"This is terrible news for the staff in Bulmers, particularly when the lay-offs will be imposed in the run-up to Christmas. I would like to extend my sympathies with all the workers affected, as well as their families."
He said the area was already suffering from high unemployment, with 9,270 people on the live register in September.
Tipperary-based Labour Party Senator Phil Prendergast said the announcement was "another example of how a failure to regulate executive pay is forcing people out of work".
She said about 200 people had been made redundant at Bulmers in the period since the new management team at the company had secured a multi-million bonus deal.