Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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I wish to discuss the imminent risk of job losses at Rehab Enterprises in Navan, County Meath. There is an experienced team of machinists who have been making personal protective equipment, PPE, for more than 20 years and supporting front-line workers, never more so than during the pandemic, when they all worked overtime to try to keep up with demand. Now, we hear that 11 of the 14 employees are in danger of losing their jobs. Deputy O'Rourke and I met the staff in Navan about ten days ago. These people go to work every day with a smile on their faces and love doing their work. To be told that their jobs may go will have an awful effect on them. Some of them have been working there for more than 30 years and others more than 20 years, with little hope of finding employment locally if these jobs go. I spoke with the HR director of Rehab Enterprises, who told me that in order to protect the other 110 jobs across the State, the plant in Navan would be hard to save. This will put these 11 people on the live register, where they will probably remain, as well as the effect it will have on them and their mental health.

Staff received a letter from Rehab Enterprises on 23 May, stating that they were advised that their roles had been placed at risk and that this meant their jobs were placed at risk of potential redundancy. It was also stated that it will not happen at that time and that Rehab Enterprises was going to see if there were any other options to prevent this from happening. There is a small window of opportunity to save these jobs and see the smile coming back on the faces of these workers. That is why I ask the Minister of State to engage with Rehab Enterprises to see if anything can be done to protect these jobs. In cases like this, it should not always be about the money but about doing what is right for people with disabilities.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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As Deputy Guirke said, there is real concern at this site towards the end of the 30-day period of consultation. Staff are working through their union but they have concerns and legitimate questions, such as why them - it is a busy facility and they are very productive. They say they have been stymied because they do not have a sales representative and pointed to areas in which they see opportunities for cost savings and expansion. A number of these workers have disabilities. There must be a major focus on holding onto these jobs; at worst, roles in the same building or in Navan could and should be explored. The risk of losing these jobs must be resisted as much as possible. There is concern more broadly in relation to Rehab Enterprises and its history in that regard in delivering redundancy packages at Limerick. I ask the Minister of State what supports he can provide in this case.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Coveney. I thank Deputies O'Rourke and Guirke for raising this matter. I listened very carefully to what they said. I confirm that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Social Protection have not received a collective redundancy notification in relation to the employer mentioned, Rehab Enterprises. It is therefore not possible for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to comment on the specific matter because no notification of collective redundancy has been received. However, I accept that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is aware of the potential redundancies. It is a huge shock for the employees affected. As the Deputy said, a letter was issued recently stating the people's jobs were potentially at risk, which is clearly an early-warning signal. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and my colleague, the Minster for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, will be glad to liaise directly on this matter as quickly as possible now that the Deputies have highlighted the issue. Both the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Social Protection will support the company and employees in any way they can. I have been informed that a dedicated team from the Department of Social Protection will be made available to work with the employees to ensure access to income support and to support them to secure alternative employment.

I recognise the particular nature of the people who work in Rehab Enterprises. There is a facility in Portlaoise, which I visited, so I am very conscious of the similar situation and that it is not as easy for the category of people in those areas to obtain employment. There will have to be further discussions, I think, with the employer directly, Rehab Enterprises, because of the particular nature of the work carried out. From my knowledge, employment has been quite strong in the County Meath area and across the country and Enterprise Ireland has been working closely with the county.

There is scope for Enterprise Ireland to look at this with an organisation like Rehab in terms of social enterprise. I think there is feasibility there. The Rehab Group is an independent, voluntary organisation. It is not a State organisation, though many people might think it is. It is heavily reliant on the State for funding for the work it does. It has been employing people with disabilities for more than 70 years. It is an internationally recognised company and charity that has enabled more than 10,000 people with disabilities to live a life of their own choosing over that period. Rehab is a strong, well-established organisation with a skill set in this area.

While the Department has not received official notification of collective redundancy to date, we will liaise directly with the Minister, Deputy O’Gorman. I thank the Deputies for raising the matter.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. I raise the devastating news for 650 staff at Tara Mines, their families, the thousands of indirect jobs in Navan and County Meath and the wider community. On my behalf and on that of Deputy Guirke, I extend solidarity to those workers and their families.

We hear this is temporary and related to the commodities market, the price of zinc, energy costs, general inflation and operational challenges and that the mine is to enter into a period of care and maintenance. We heard and read statements from the general manager, Gunnar Nystrom, and the Minister, Deputy Coveney. We heard from SIPTU official Adrian Kane. We know there is a commitment for continued engagement, for Enterprise Ireland to work with apprenticeships and for social welfare to work with workers affected, but this has come as a bolt out of the blue. There is huge uncertainty and real hurt about the way this was handled.

Deputy Guirke and I have written on numerous occasions to the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, when there were concerns in respect of energy. We wrote to Mr. Nystrom as far back as the end of April. The question for workers is what “temporary” means. What more can Government do? Is there anything that can be done? It is clear energy costs are a huge factor.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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First, on Rehab, I fully recognise the work carried out by the workforce. The Deputy said they had a major role during Covid and worked extensively in that time. They have a good sewing, trimming and cutting process, producing garments of the highest quality for clients in industry, pharmaceuticals, food and transportation. They have a very good reputation. It is important that Rehab talks to its parent Department, from which it receives most of its funding, as a matter of urgency.

The Deputy has mentioned the very serious news for workers in Tara Mines. It would be unreal if I did not respond. I do not have a script on it. I send our support from the Government. I listened to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on the radio. He has spoken to the chief executive. In the interview on RTÉ Radio 1 this morning, as I recollect, he talked about a period of months. Over the coming weeks, while the work is winding down, the issue is to keep the mine in a safe condition so that when conditions improve, it can open quickly and there is not another six-month delay getting it back in order. I appeal to the company to keep the mine ready for opening, not just when there is a price increase. That would take another six months if it is not kept up to the required standard.

Everybody in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Social Protection will be involved with the workforce immediately. No details have been worked out, I understand, in the context of how long the period will be or what compensation will be paid. I understand there was a briefing on the matter for employees last night. I do not know the detail of what was discussed. It is a shock for the entire workforce, but it is a bolt out of the blue for the country as well to have a big employer of that scale taking a hit like this. Our thoughts are with the workforce and their families at this time.