I raise the situation in which staff at Ballincollog-based VMware find themselves as they face into Christmas. The company announced in recent weeks that it is restructuring and that there would be job losses, and that negotiations would be going on during December and January. Earlier this week, the company announced that 360 people will lose their jobs in the new year. That is a massive blow to the people themselves and the wider area, but especially to the 360 staff. That is more than a number. Those are real people with families, commitments, mortgages, hopes and aspirations, all of which are now hanging in the balance. The company will have been engaging with the Minister's Department. It is essential that it makes every effort to protect those jobs and that the job losses will be minimal. Will the Minister outline the efforts being made to minimise those job losses and to provide support to any people who lose their jobs?

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It is obviously a big concern to me. I know VMware well. It is a fantastic company with a skilled workforce who have done an amazing job for quite a long time in Cork. VMware has been acquired by a company called Broadcom. We knew that when the acquisition or merger took place, there would be an impact. The workforce also knew that. Unfortunately, it means 360 job losses. The IDA has been working closely with the company, and will continue to do so, as will my Department. We will do everything we can to support the workforce. It is really bad news. However, this is a highly skilled workforce and there will be other employment opportunities available quickly for people. That is certainly the experience. Nevertheless, it is still a shock, particularly at this time of year. I assure the Deputy that the agencies of the State will be working closely with the staff to support them in any way we can.