Despite IDA confirmation that up to 500 jobs will go at the Apple plant in Cork, the company declined at the weekend to comment on the imminent redundancies or tell its workers what the future holds.
The company's spokesman in Cork, Mr Liam Donoghue, would not comment on or off the record or confirm that, as expected, an Apple executive is due in Cork early this week, possibly today, to address the workforce.
The Minister for Education, Mr Martin, Senator Brendan Ryan of the Labour Party and the SIPTU general secretary, Mr John McDonnell, called yesterday on Apple to tell workers at the plant what the global restructuring plans now being undertaken by Apple will mean for Cork.
The most outspoken critic of the manner in which the company is handling the crisis at the plant was Senator Ryan, who said it was "astonishing and disgraceful" Apple workers should have to rely on the media to learn about their position.
"I'm extremely angry. This is no way to treat a loyal workforce. I teach chemical engineering at the Cork Institute of Technology and most of the students who graduate from here go on to work for multinationals. When they do, they hear the message loud and clear that company loyalty is a must.
"In this case, though, what I want to know is where's the company's loyalty to its staff?"
Senator Ryan also said the IDA's approach to the crisis had been "shameful". "They have continued to hint that something is happening but it seems that the last people to be told will be the hundreds of workers in the locality."
According to an IDA spokesman, 400 temporary jobs in the plant will go and as many as 100 permanent ones. He said senior IDA officials had met Apple representatives in the United States recently and had said Cork still had a lot to offer the company.
Assurances had been received, he added, that despite the job losses, Cork would retain its status as Apple's European headquarters, while production of the company's new iMac computer would move elsewhere, possibly to Wales.
"Apple will continue to be a major Cork-based industry. It's not all doom and gloom - absolutely not - Apple have to do something to protect its new growth and in the modern marketplace that's the reality."
Asked why Apple had not first told its workers of the impending lay-offs, the IDA spokesman said the company may have been bound by stock exchange rules in the US. But Mr Donoghue, for Apple, would comment on none of these issues.
Mr John McDonnell, the SIPTU general secretary, said it was the firm's duty to keep its workers informed. SIPTU would be seeking an urgent meeting with Cork management, he added. "We need a meeting and we hope to have one today to clarify the position. As things stand, it's not acceptable. We don't really know what instructions the management at the plant have been given."
The Minister for Education, Mr Martin, added his voice to concerns about the company's failure to be explicit with its staff. "It's important for the workers to have clarification and that should be done as soon as possible. The Government will have to redouble its efforts to replace the jobs which seem to be about to go and of course there is serious concern about that prospect. But it should be remembered that Apple has been a good employer in Cork for many years and that it has been a significant contributor to the local economy."
Over the weekend, workers coming and going at the plant said they had no idea what was happening. One married man who feels his job might be in jeopardy said it was very hard for the staff to continue working while rumours were rife. "We have mortgages to pay, some of us are entering into financial commitments and others are thinking of booking holidays for the summer. But how can we go ahead with any of these plans when we don't know whether or not we will have jobs in a few weeks' time?"
But despite the uncertainty at Apple, there was better news in Cork yesterday for Nycomed Ireland at Carrigtwohill in the eastern suburbs of the city, where a £10 million expansion has been announced. It will lead to the creation of 150 new jobs over the next two years. The plant, which makes medical equipment, currently has 146 employees.
In a statement, the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, said the expansion proved that Cork remained a good location for growth.