Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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333. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware that a business is facing the prospect of making over one thousand security officers redundant by going through the liquidation process (details supplied); if he will ensure that workers are protected in the case if redundancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14230/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by Department of Social Protection officials who administer the Insolvency Payments Scheme on my behalf that they have had no correspondence from the company referred to by the Deputy. I am not aware of any media reports that the company the Deputy is referring to has entered liquidation.

The Deputy may be referring to a separate Northern Irish company which traded under the same name, which is reported to have entered into liquidation. Employees based in Northern Ireland are generally governed by that jurisdiction's regulations governing redundancy and employer's insolvency.

In general, where an Irish employer has become legally insolvent, the Redundancy Payments Scheme and Insolvency Payments Scheme protect the former employees. The Schemes are administered by the Department of Social Protection on my behalf. Payments are made from the Social Insurance Fund and are subject to certain limits.

The Redundancy Payments Scheme ensures eligible employees receive their statutory redundancy payment in the event that their employer is unable to pay due to its insolvency.

Under the Insolvency Payments Scheme, employees may also claim various outstanding debts, through an employer representative, such as the official liquidator or receiver. These debts include arrears of wages, holiday and sick pay, minimum notice, certain unpaid pension contributions and various statutory awards made by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

In addition, in July last year, I introduced a number of legislative changes to further enhance the protection of employees facing collective redundancies caused by their employer's insolvency, through the Employment (Collective Redundancies and Miscellaneous Provisions) and Companies (Amendment) Act 2024.