Minister’s Response to Parliamentary Question on Protecting Employment at Wellman International, Mullagh

Posted on by

Below is a reply by the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to the most recent Parliamentary Question I tabled in Dáil Éireann regarding the need to protect employment and the best interests of employees at Wellman International, Mullagh.

For Written Answer on: 17/07/2025
Question Number(s): 273
Question Reference(s): 40467/25
Department: Enterprise, Tourism and Employment
Asked by: Brendan Smith T.D.

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, in view of the concerns of employees at a company (details supplied), if he will outline the supports being provided by his Department and the industrial promotion agencies to secure the maximum possible level of employment in that company and protect the best interests of employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
(Details Supplied): Wellman International Ireland at Mullagh, Co. Cavan

REPLY

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 Examinership on 3rd June 2025. In this regard, it is important to note that 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, continues to be for the potentially impacted employees and their families during this difficult and uncertain time.

Following the announcement by Wellman International to appoint an Examiner, IDA Ireland has implemented its job losses protocols, which involve established internal processes for dealing with situations of potential job losses with one of its client companies and engagement with impacted workers. The IDA remains in close contact with the company and worker representatives to ensure that all appropriate supports are made available to impacted staff. This includes regular meetings with the leadership team, actively exploring all avenues of opportunity for the site and impacted employees, while acknowledging that the Examinership process is court-supervised with the aim of enabling the company to emerge as a going concern.

The IDA’s regional team is partnering with local agencies to support impacted employees. These supports and initiatives, communicated to the site leadership, include the following:

  • Outplacement employment support services and potential training opportunities may be provided/facilitated by the company and/or other providers (ETBs, Skillnet, etc.).
  • Provision of a detailed skills profile for employees on the site, which – subject to agreement – can be shared with other potential employers. Wellman leadership has provided the IDA with a full employee skills audit.
  • IDA has agreed with the company and engaged with the Examiner to help market the site and business across its global office network. Wellman has provided the IDA with all necessary site details for sharing with potential investors.
  • At a local level, the IDA will introduce the Department of Social Protection and Solas to support impacted employees with social welfare services and employment transition supports.
  • IDA has engaged with its sister agency, Enterprise Ireland, and will connect with all relevant regional agencies to promote the site through broader marketing efforts.

I can assure the Deputy that IDA Ireland and all relevant local agencies will continue to support and assist the impacted employees, as appropriate, in line with the Examinership process.

More broadly, the Border Region – comprising Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, and Monaghan – currently has 72 IDA client companies employing 10,389 people. The region has seen strong FDI performance over the past five years, with a 12% increase in employment among IDA client companies. Cavan itself is home to 10 IDA-supported companies employing 950 people.

IDA Ireland also works closely with key regional stakeholders, including the Regional Skills Forum, Enterprise Ireland, Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT), local authorities, and through collaboration on the North-East Regional Enterprise Plan. It also engages with strategic industry networks such as The Fintech Corridor, BORMAC (Border Region Manufacturing Cluster), and the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence (AMTCE), which all contribute to innovation, workforce development, and enterprise growth.

IDA’s strategy going forward focuses on leveraging the strengths of the region in high-value manufacturing, services, and R&D, while seizing opportunities in areas such as data analytics, smart manufacturing, cybersecurity, and remote working hubs. Regional development remains central to IDA’s strategy, and both the Government and IDA Ireland are committed to promoting balanced, sustainable regional growth.

Nonetheless, our primary concern remains with the employees affected by this development. Our agencies will continue working to support those pursuing alternative employment, and the Government is committed to offering a comprehensive range of supports, including training, development, and income supports. The IDA continues to actively engage with the company regarding its future.