Labour demands urgent plan for tech layoffs

Labour Leader Ivana Bacik TD has called on Government to urgently develop a serious industrial and workers’ protection plan in response to mounting layoffs across the tech sector, warning in the Dáil today that Ireland is dangerously exposed to the decisions of a small number of multinational corporations.

Raising the issue directly with the Taoiseach during Leaders’ Questions, Deputy Bacik said thousands of workers and their families are facing deep uncertainty as major tech firms announce fresh job cuts while Government continues to rely heavily on a fragile economic model. She called for stronger redundancy protections, collective bargaining rights, investment in retraining and upskilling, and a long-term strategy to grow indigenous Irish enterprise and innovation in the AI and technology sectors.

Deputy Bacik said:

“Families are facing enormous uncertainty as more workers in the tech sector receive redundancy notices or watch colleagues lose their jobs. Entire communities across Ireland have been built around secure, well-paid employment in tech. For many workers now, that sense of security has been deeply shaken.

“The latest announcements from companies such as Meta have caused huge anxiety, particularly given the scale of the cuts being imposed in Ireland. More than 20,000 IT sector jobs have been lost over the past year alone. Behind the corporate language about ‘flattening teams’ and ‘modernisation’ are real people worried about paying rent or mortgages, supporting their families, and planning for their future.

“This Government has left Ireland dangerously dependent on a small number of multinational technology companies. The Taoiseach’s response in the Dáil today was inadequate because he failed to grasp the scale of the challenge facing workers and the wider economy.

“We are also seeing concerning behaviour from some corporations when it comes to industrial relations and workers’ rights. The situation involving Covalen and the reported refusal to engage with the Workplace Relations Commission highlights serious weaknesses in Ireland’s labour protections.

“Technology and AI have enormous potential to improve lives and create opportunity. However, what we are seeing now is the use of AI and automation as cover for workforce reductions, while workers are left carrying all of the risk.

“Labour is calling for stronger collective bargaining rights, stronger protections for workers facing redundancy, investment in retraining and upskilling, and a serious plan to grow indigenous Irish enterprise and innovation in the AI and tech sectors. Workers deserve security, dignity and confidence about the future. Government must act now.”