Job Losses
Dail Éireann — 2026-06-16
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Pa Daly (SF), Kerry

I appreciate what the Minister of State has said about IDA but he will be aware that over 700 employees at the Meta contractor were told that they would lose their jobs which will be replaced by AI. They have written to the Minister requesting intervention. I want to know what engagement the Minister has had. What has the Department done to assist the impacted workers?
As the Minister of State is probably aware, last week Covalen workers and the CWU gave a briefing in the audiovisual room outlining the situation facing the 700 employees. I thank Deputy Boyd Barrett for facilitating that. These workers explained how they were being asked to train AI systems to do their own jobs, effectively digging their own graves. These are mostly content reviewers, watching some of the most horrific content online so that we and our children do not get to see it. While at work, there are no psychological or mental health supports. Some have been hospitalised from the traumatising impact and what have they been given? They have been shown the door with the bare minimum redundancy package. That highlights the attitude of some of these tech companies.
The employer is imposing a six-month cooling-off period which would prevent them taking up employment in similar roles. What are they supposed to do? Many of them are non-Irish nationals on critical skills visas with no family support network, which is all the more reason for the Government to step in.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-06-16/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:54:50+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-16