Rose Conway-Walsh: 720 Covalin Job Losses - Demand Action
Rose Conway-Walsh raises urgent concern over the prospect of 720 job losses at Covalen and calls on the Taoiseach to ensure workers receive meaningful retraining, reskilling and protection. She asks that the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment meet with the CWE so the consultation process delivers better outcomes for affected families.
Rose Conway-Walsh outlines the anxiety facing Covalen workers and their families, arguing that existing statutory redundancy legislation is no longer adequate. She highlights immediate worries about access to retraining, reskilling pathways and alternative employment.
The deputy points to specific obstacles, including cooling-off periods and non-commit arrangements that could prevent redundant workers from taking up roles with rival firms. She presses the government for clarity and action to remove barriers to timely work and fair outcomes.
Conway-Walsh asks the Taoiseach to ask his Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to meet with the CWE to ensure the consultation process produces meaningful change. The speech stresses that consultations must translate into practical supports and real opportunities for the 720 workers.
The Taoiseach responds by referencing retraining and reskilling supports and the National Training Fund, noting agencies should engage with workers about supports, alternative employment options or assistance to start businesses. Conway-Walsh frames this as an important but insufficient first step unless consultations deliver concrete outcomes.
Immediate concern: job losses and legal gaps
Rose Conway-Walsh outlines the anxiety facing Covalen workers and their families, arguing that existing statutory redundancy legislation is no longer adequate. She highlights immediate worries about access to retraining, reskilling pathways and alternative employment.
Barriers to re-employment
The deputy points to specific obstacles, including cooling-off periods and non-commit arrangements that could prevent redundant workers from taking up roles with rival firms. She presses the government for clarity and action to remove barriers to timely work and fair outcomes.
Request for ministerial engagement
Conway-Walsh asks the Taoiseach to ask his Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to meet with the CWE to ensure the consultation process produces meaningful change. The speech stresses that consultations must translate into practical supports and real opportunities for the 720 workers.
Government response and training supports
The Taoiseach responds by referencing retraining and reskilling supports and the National Training Fund, noting agencies should engage with workers about supports, alternative employment options or assistance to start businesses. Conway-Walsh frames this as an important but insufficient first step unless consultations deliver concrete outcomes.
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Transcript
Taoiseach, the prospect of 720 job losses at Covalin has caused enormous anxiety for workers and their families and our existing legislation around statutory redundancy is no longer adequate. After losing their jobs, Covalin workers are worried about whether they will have meaningful access to retraining, reskilling pathways and alternative employment. They're concerned about cooling off periods and non-commit arrangements preventing redundant workers from potentially taking up employment with rivals. Taoiseach, will you ask your Minister for Enterprise Tourism and Employment to meet with the CWE and ensure that the consultation process delivers meaningful change and better outcomes for Covalin workers? In terms of the job losses at Covan, I think retraining and reskilling supports will be provided. We do have the National Training Fund, so the agencies should engage with the workers there in terms of whatever supports they need in terms of perhaps finding alternative employment or indeed helping some maybe to establish their own businesses if that's what some might want to do.