I raise the pending closure of the Merck facility in Arklow, whose foreign investment we formally welcome. Merck is a huge multinational global company with a turnover of over £2.2 billion in the last quarter of this year. It has also been supported warmly by IDA Ireland, but the initial redundancy package put to the workers is simply an insult to over 100 employees. We now have to go down the WRC route, which is hugely stressful for the workforce. This workforce is highly skilled and some have given decades of service. All they simply want is fairness with a fair redundancy package and fair pensions. Sometimes large companies take over and close down units like this, and treat site workers simply as stats, but these are genuine people. They are people who have applied for mortgages, who are in their elder years and may not get employment again. I ask that everything be done to help these workers in their fight for fairness.

I thank the Deputy very much indeed for raising this issue. As he said, Merck made the decision last month to wind down operations at its Arklow facility by the end of 2028 following a strategic portfolio product review. Other operations in Ireland are unaffected. The IDA has activated internal processes for responding to the potential and actual job loss situation with the client company. That involves proactive engagement with the site leadership of the company and its parent company. A consultation process is under way between the company and its employee representatives; that normally happens following any announcement.

The IDA leads the co-ordinated response by other relevant Departments and agencies. We tend to focus on trying to get alternative work through local enterprise offices and others and on whether there are potential new start-ups, which happens at times when companies close. We have out-placement employment support services and potential training opportunities may be provided, as well as provision of detailed skills profiles for the employees and other recruitment opportunities with other employers. We will work fully to try to help the workers.