Co Tipperary TD and Junior Minister at the Department of Agriculture Tom Hayes has confirmed that he is to meet with senior management of Dawn Fresh Foods to discuss the immediate future of the Fethard based company.
This morning Dawn Fresh Foods officially announced that its production facility in Fethard is to close on a phased basis with immediate effect, and that 104 permanebnt workers are to be made redundant.
The closure will be completed by December of this year employees were told at a meeting on Friday.
The decision follows five years of tough trading conditions for the company.
The demand for ready meals has reduced in recent times, especially since the horsemeat controversy, while the weakness of sterling has also had its effects especially since 80% of all output from the Fethard plant is exported.
The company will now enter a 30 day consultation period with staff in a bid to deliver a workable business plan, as a viable rescue plan is not achievable.
Speaking to Tipperary Mid West Radio this morning Minister Hayes said that he will be meeting with senior management over the weekend.
He also referred the matter to his departmental collegue Simon Coveney and the Minister for Jobs Richard Burton.
He added that extensive efforts are already underway to seek a buyer for the state- of -the art plant.
