Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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114. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the workers of a large Irish based company whose Irish operation was terminated several years ago will be covered by the recent decision of the European Court in relation to the defined benefit pension scheme of the former Waterford Crystal workforce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20916/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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On 25 April 2013, the European Court of Justice issued a ruling which contained a number of clarifications regarding transposition EU Directive 2008/94EC which concerns the protection of employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer. This ruling was in response to a July 2011 referral from the High Court regarding proceedings brought by former workers at Waterford Crystal. The High Court had, in taking the view that interpretation of the provisions of the Directive 2008/94 was necessary in order for it to give its decision in this case, decided to stay the proceedings and to refer a number of questions to the Court of Justice for a preliminary ruling. Following the ECJ ruling, the matter will now revert to the High Court for consideration. Given this matter remains before the courts it would not be appropriate that I comment further on the question you have raised or any specific aspects of the case at this time.