Shane Cassells (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I say "Well done" to the Cathaoirleach for pointing out to Members the existence of the Seanad Public Consultation Committee, a forum with which people can engage. Some people here seem to have amnesia about who got rid of town councils and perpetrated that act of butchery. I proposed a Bill in the previous Dáil which was voted against by Deputy John Paul Phelan and everyone else in Fine Gael.

I rise to mention the ongoing issue at Tara Mines, where 700 workers have been laid off for 131 days. Negotiations between the unions and management broke down last night because management at Boliden has reneged on a commitment to an independent facilitation process to find a pathway forward for a reopening date for Tara Mines. These workers are in limbo. They have not been let go but have instead been temporarily suspended. Under a deal from the Workplace Relations Commission, they are earning €65 per week. That would not buy a round of drinks in the pub at the moment with the way prices have gone. Those workers are a month out from Christmas and cannot provide for their families. Boliden is standing over this. It was reported in today's Irish Independentby John Mulligan that Tara Mines' profits were more than €24 million last year. These guys are crying poverty. It is not a stand-alone mine. It is part of a mining network across northern Europe. The group is well capable of sustaining the impact on income due to a drop in zinc prices this year to keep those people in employment.

The issue has now been referred to the Labour Court because Tara Mines will not allow this independent facilitation. It has said it is working on a rescue plan. I ask it to publish that rescue plan. I ask it to publish the reopening date so that the 700 workers and their families, and the 2,000 people whose jobs are dependent on the mine, have a way forward and a pathway a month from Christmas.