A joint SDLP-Sinn Fein delegation today met with Tory Minister David Gauke in London in an effort to stop HMRC job losses in Derry, Enniskillen and Newry.
Sinn Féin MPs Conor Murphy and Michelle Gildenew were joined by the SDLP MPs Mark Durkan and Margaret Ritchie at the meeting during which they told the Minister of the devastating effect the job losses would have on the economies of all three areas.
Speaking after the meeting, Foyle MP Mr Durkan said they had put the case robustly to the UK Treasury Minister that the centres were vital to the local economy and provided important services, especially for those who do not have internet access.
Ms Gildernew, MP for Fermanagh/South Tyrone, said any office closures or redundancies would affect border constituiences in a “disproportionate manner” and it was possible that women and part time workers would also be disproportionately affected.
She added: “Revenue and Customs employs in excess of 20,000 staff so there is no reason why these planned redundancies could not have been absorbed by the whole organization through natural attrition.”
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