An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Dail Éireann — 2025-12-16
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Micheál Martin (FF), Cork South-Central

I thank the Deputy very much indeed for raising this issue. As he said, Merck made the decision last month to wind down operations at its Arklow facility by the end of 2028 following a strategic portfolio product review. Other operations in Ireland are unaffected. The IDA has activated internal processes for responding to the potential and actual job loss situation with the client company. That involves proactive engagement with the site leadership of the company and its parent company. A consultation process is under way between the company and its employee representatives; that normally happens following any announcement.
The IDA leads the co-ordinated response by other relevant Departments and agencies. We tend to focus on trying to get alternative work through local enterprise offices and others and on whether there are potential new start-ups, which happens at times when companies close. We have out-placement employment support services and potential training opportunities may be provided, as well as provision of detailed skills profiles for the employees and other recruitment opportunities with other employers. We will work fully to try to help the workers.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2025-12-16/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:28+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-12-16