Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for the presentation. I have a few fairly basic questions. First, what are the tests that are now going to be applied to prevent companies squirrelling away assets to get them out of the reach of predators? That was a key element. Second, during the 30-day period, apart from the obligation to be paid and for there to be some consultation, are there other rights that are triggered for workers in terms of protecting their position? My third question relates to contract workers. That seems to be quite an extensive practice now. Where do they stand? They have a contract and presumably if those contracts are terminated early, they are a creditor under that contract. Where does that stand in the hierarchy of creditors? Is it with workers and therefore they have some greater protection? Where does it exactly stand?

I welcome the ELRG. Its forerunner, the CLRG, did huge work consolidating and evolving company law. Most of it was done on a voluntary basis and there was extraordinary dedication from the people who got involved. I am sure this will be the same. I am not so much interested in who is going to be on it but I would be interested to know what the work programme is likely to be. Do we have a signal of the challenges the Department will be bringing to the group to look at or, indeed, upcoming changes anticipated from Europe?