SOLIDARITY'S Mick Barry has called on Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin to clarify his position on the future of the Cork Mail Centre.

It is due to close on March 31, which means that it could potentially be stopped by the next Government.

Should Fianna Fáil form part of the next Government, as opinion polls suggest, Micheál Martin could have a say in whether the closure goes ahead as planned.

He has previously said that he felt the decision to shut the Mail Centre was a poor one but the Cork South Central incumbent was also criticised from some quarters for not doing enough to stop the closure.

It is understood that only a relatively small number of staff have finished up in the run in to closure with more than 200 of the original 250 staff still employed at the Little Island centre.

“The next Government is now very likely to be formed before the closure of the Cork Mail Centre. Micheál Martin needs to answer the question as to whether he will intervene to stop the closure if he is Taoiseach before March 31. More than 200 Cork jobs are at stake here - the question should be put, and the question should be answered,” Deputy Barry said.