Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In terms of lay-offs, our thoughts have to be with the workers in the company or those who may be laid off - from our perspective, in Ireland - and we have to do everything we possibly can to make sure they can secure alternative employment. We have a strong industrial relations framework and strong employee protection rights in Ireland, along with legislation.

We will do everything to make sure we maintain those rights, maintain the legislative framework we have, protect employees and help employees in situations where either companies are engaging in lay-offs - which can happen, and I will not speculate on the reasoning beyond the lay-offs. Our fundamental obligation is to help those employees who are going through a traumatic time if and when they are laid off.

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