Máire Devine (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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700. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if Enterprise Ireland intends to open an office in Auckland, New Zealand. [18967/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Enterprise Ireland's (EI's) international office network is kept under continuous review and offices are opened and closed in response to the need and opportunity to support EI clients in individual markets. EI does not currently plan to open an office in Auckland.

However, Enterprise Ireland has two offices in Australia, located in Sydney and Melbourne, that service the New Zealand market.

EI also employ a Pathfinder presence in New Zealand. Pathfinders are advisors on retainer contracts with Enterprise Ireland's international offices and provide on-the-ground support to Irish companies looking to expand their export activities

These Pathfinders play a vital role in helping Irish businesses succeed internationally by leveraging their local expertise and networks.

Supporting Irish companies’ growth and expansion overseas, Enterprise Ireland recently announced the opening of three new offices in the US, UK and Europe, the three largest export markets for EI client companies.

The new offices, located in Atlanta, Scotland and Switzerland will provide critical resources for Irish companies looking to expand into high-growth industries including the fintech industry (Atlanta), Offshore Wind industry (Scotland) and medtech and pharma industries (Switzerland).

Enterprise Ireland’s global footprint has now increased to 42 international offices across 26 countries and is a key initiative of EI’s new five-year strategy, which sets a target of achieving €50 billion client exports by 2029.

Máire Devine (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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701. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the IDA intends to open an office in Dubai. [18968/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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In line with the IDA Ireland's strategy to diversify and broaden Ireland's global market reach and geographic footprint, the IDA is supported by a number of “Pathfinders” (in-market consultants) to build their business and profile in certain smaller, developing markets for FDI. In this regard, IDA Ireland has had a presence in the UAE since 2019, through a Pathfinder based in Abu Dhabi, which is a short commute from Dubai. While the IDA does not currently plan to open an office in Dubai, the Agency continues to monitor and review their footprint across the globe to align with market opportunities.

More generally, the UAE is a developing market for FDI into Europe and the IDA actively targets opportunities for FDI in relevant sectors across the UAE region including ICT, Business Services, Lifesciences, Fintech and the Green Economy. Positive inroads have been made in recent years with companies from the UAE including Dnata and DP World employing over 300 people in Ireland.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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702. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware of proposed redundancies in a company (details supplied); if he can make any intervention to seek to avoid this; to detail any other communication he has had with the company, and any assistance he can provide to both the company and the workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18983/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Firstly, my thoughts are with all workers facing potential redundancy and I understand this is very difficult time for those involved.

Ireland has a robust framework of legislative protections and supports for workers who are impacted by redundancy. The Protection of Employment Act 1977 defines collective redundancies as situations where, during any period of 30 consecutive days, the number of redundancies is:

• 5 or more employees, where 21-49 are normally employed in an establishment
• 10 or more employees where 50-99 are normally employed in an establishment
• 10% or more of the employees where 100-299 are employed in an establishment
• 30 or more employees where 300 or more are employed in an establishment

• Provision of a detailed skills profile for the site; a talent catchment map and timings for when individuals will be available, provided by the company.
• Identification of other employers who may be hiring across IDA and EI client companies. IDA is already aware of employers who may be currently hiring in the wider region/catchment.
• Sharing of skills profiles with other companies who may be hiring and direct engagement with HR departments, when appropriate through IDA and EI.
• Briefings by local Department of Social Protection/Intreo offices to impacted employees on social welfare and employment support services to support impacted employees’ transition to new employment opportunities.
• Identification of training and further education opportunities for employees (ETBs; Skillnet; Universities).