John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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108. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the alternative employment that has been secured for workers of a company (details supplied); the measures he has taken to secure alternative employment; and the degree of success in relation to the matter to date. [20119/20]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to re-building a strong economy that provides stability for workers and helps those who have lost their jobs to secure alternative employment.  I extend my sympathies to the workers in Debenhams who have lost their jobs. I appreciate how difficult the situation is for those involved and their families.

My Department, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and the Department of Education and Skills activated its Job Loss Protocol in response to the announcement of the closure of Debenhams in April. This Protocol leverages the strong working relationships between our departments and their agencies to ensure a decisive, collaborative and comprehensive governmental response to job losses.

Through this Protocol, every effort is being made to assist the workers that have lost their jobs. This coordinated approach ensures that former Debenhams employees are supported through welfare entitlements, job-search assistance and upskilling opportunities. This approach draws upon the strengths of the national skills architecture based on labour market intelligence and initiatives aimed at future proofing Ireland’s workforce.

Last week I, together with the Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation and the Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, met with Debenhams employees and their union, Mandate, to hear their views and concerns about the liquidation of Debenhams Ireland. At this meeting Mandate acknowledged that the Government’s Job Loss Protocol, as it had been applied for Debenham’s workers, had worked very well. Mandate noted the need for such an approach and indicated that the use of the Protocol was appreciated.