Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

In regard to Deputy Eamon Ryan's question on redundancy, as I said previously I do not have detailed legal advice at this stage. My understanding is that redundancies occur in a situation where the job has finished. It would seem that it is stretching it considerably to suggest a redundancy occurs where one worker is displaced and replaced by another. However, we have learned here and elsewhere that it is prudent to await legal advice. We are all aware of situations where people have run off to the courts and have succeeded in getting decisions one would have hoped they may not have got. There is reason to try to ensure that would not arise.

In regard to the race to the bottom, so far as other jobs are within the jurisdiction of the State there are considerably stronger safeguards, although I cannot say there are cast iron safeguards. I concede there are developments across a range of areas that concern me.

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