Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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110. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will ensure that the maximum possible support is provided by his Department, and the industrial promotion agencies under the remit of his Department, to a company (details supplied) to ensure the maximum possible employment level retention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31298/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Wellman International is a wholly owned subsidiary of Indorama Ventures PCL, one of the world’s leading petrochemical producers and a leading global manufacturer of wool yarns. The broader Indorama Group is based in Bangkok, Thailand. As the Deputy will be aware, Wellman International Ltd, Mullagh, County Cavan produces polyester staple fibres, made primarily from recycled material, and the company entered the examinership process on 3rd June 2025. Examinership is a court-overseen process whereby a company is placed under court protection for a period of time in order to allow for the potential rescue and return to financial health of a company which may be in severe financial difficulty, but which is potentially viable.

My foremost concern, and that of the Government, is for the potentially impacted employees and their families during this difficult and uncertain time. And I can confirm that my Department received a collective redundancy notification from Wellman International Limited on 6th June 2025, the details of which are for the company to disclose. However, it should be noted that Ireland has a robust suite of employment rights legislation in place to protect and support workers where collective redundancies are proposed by an employer.

The Protection of Employment Act 1977 imposes certain legal obligations on employers in these situations, including the requirement to consult and provide information to employees’ representatives for a 30-day period, before any notice of redundancy can issue. The consultation with employees’ representatives should include the possibility of avoiding the proposed redundancies, reducing the number of employees effected or mitigating their consequences. The proposed collective redundancy must also be notified to the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment at least 30 days before the first dismissal takes effect.

In parallel, Government provides a range of supports to any employees facing job losses and the Intreo service of the Department of Social Protection can assist with income supports and relevant employment and training opportunities where needed. Our enterprise agencies will also assist where possible in helping those impacted to find alternative employment, and this support can include:

• Provision of a detailed skills profile for the employees which can be shared with other potential employers;
• Identification and connection with other employers who may be hiring across the locality and wider region;
• Information sessions by the Department of Social Protection's Intreo Office on social welfare services and employment support services;
• Identification and provision of training and further education opportunities for employees; and
• Exploring opportunities to start your own business through LEOs and Enterprise Ireland.

IDA will continue its engagement with the parent company, Indorama in Bangkok, and with the impacted workers.