Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is what I want to differentiate. There is the Department of Social Protection figure, and we know that is ongoing and it has not been rectified. Outside of that, there are workers who were deprived of the various benefits that come with being an employee of any organisation, let alone a semi-State organisation. In my view, RTÉ is completely abdicating its responsibilities to these people. When the workers protest and raise their concerns and issues, which are real concerns because these people are going to be left without pensions and they suffered enormously financially as a result of this mistreatment by the organisation, they are told to take it to court. There is an element of “Mr Bates vs The Post Office” about this. It is very sad to see that happening in our own country with an institution such as RTÉ. However, in my view, that is what is happening right now.

I understand there is a figure with regard to the Department of Social Protection side of things. Does the Minister have an estimated figure as to what it would cost to properly compensate these workers for what they should have been receiving over the years? It is not compensation, damages or on top of what they should have got. This is just to pay people what they should have got in the first place and did not get because of what was potentially an illegal act. I do not have a legal background but I would say it was very dubious behaviour by the organisation, and it may well result in a criminal investigation, although I do not know if it will. That is a separate fund and a separate cost. Has the Minister investigated this or is she prepared to step back and allow it? I do not think it is good enough just to say it is a matter for the DG and the Department of Social Protection. It is not. This has been ongoing for years and it has not been resolved. At the centre of this are the workers, some of whom have given 40 years of service to RTÉ, and they are being completely mistreated. Therefore, I think it is the Minister's business. She has to intervene to ensure these people get proper treatment.