The announcement of redundancies in the tech sector is a cause for concern. I refer, for example, to the announcement on Thursday that half of Twitter’s Irish staff were being summarily dismissed via email. It has rightly been highlighted that a hard-fought right of workers - the requirement for an employer to notify the Government of such actions - has not been adhered to.

I am aware, as the Minister mentioned, that the Tánaiste is to meet with Enterprise Ireland, EI, and the Industrial Development Authority, IDA, in relation to the matter shortly.

What is the point of having law on the Statue Book if it is not being adhered to? Can the Minister commit to ensuring that employment law is adhered to, that workers are afforded the dignity of a proper notice of termination and that provisions of Irish law that permit prosecutions and fines to be imposed on such a company be seriously looked at to ensure that such rogue behaviour that I believe has taken place will not be tolerated?

Engagement has taken place between the Tánaiste and the Ministers of State with EI and the IDA in relation to this issue. The provisions of the Protection of Employment Act 1977 are very clear when it comes to collective redundancies, such as the requirement for the 30-day consultation period with the workers and their representatives and also the need to notify the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment of the proposals at least 30 days before the first dismissal takes effect.

The Workplace Relations Commission is the body in Ireland that has the statutory powers in respect of the enforcement of employment law and I have no doubt that it will not be found wanting in fulfilling its responsibilities in that regard.