Comments by the owners of the Tara Mines facility in County Meath have been described as "unhelpful", with talks still underway to try and get people back to work.

That is according to SIPTU, after Boliden CEO Mikael Staffas said that the mine will have to close permanently if it does not return to profitability.

Tara Mines has been effectively shut since last summer, as high energy costs and low zinc prices left it unprofitable. 

SIPTU spokesperson John Regan believes Boliden trying to exert pressure through the media is no way to do business.

“We’re after having five conciliation conferences in the Workplace Relations Commission and we have adjourned to consider positions,” he said. 

“The parent company coming out with that statement beggars belief… Going public and going to the media to get a soundbite across to us, that’s not helpful and none of the workers want that to happen. 

“They would prefer it if the company would come in and talk to us around the table.” 

Tara Mines. Photo: Mark Stedman/RollingNews.ie

In January, Boliden put forward a rescue plan that would involve redundancies - something SIPTU said it would ‘not accept’.

Boliden has been contacted for comment. 

Main image: Tara Mines, Navan, Co Meath, Ireland